Obituary for Howard Weiss Howard Weiss, 86, of Overland Park, died Wednesday, January 2, 2019. Howard was born on January 17, 1932, in Atlantic City, NJ. He earned a B.S. in Business, with honors, from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and a M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of New York at Buffalo.
He was an Air Force Veteran, serving 4 years during the Korean War, with postings on two different continents. Howard’s life changed in 1956, when he waited for two hours outside the student union building at Fairleigh Dickinson to ask his crush, Gladys Schneider, out on a date. That moment commenced a lifelong love affair – the pair were married in 1958, had two beloved daughters, and celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last August.
Howard is best remembered professionally for his unwavering commitment to the special needs’ community. After earning national accolades for his leadership at the Kennedy Job Training Center in suburban Chicago, he moved to Kansas City, serving the Jewish Vocational Service and Rehabilitation Institute for over 24 years in executive directorship roles where he increased the agency’s scope of services and became recognized for community involvement. Howard’s professional involvement included serving as president of the MO Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, as well as five other Rehabilitation Associations in Missouri, Kansas and Illinois.
Howard was a board member of the Executive Agency Association (United Way) and Committee on Aging (Mid-America Regional Council). He served on several other advisory committees through Missouri Universities, Jewish Family Services, and the Chamber of Commerce of Greater KC. He was also published in multiple professional journals.
Howard’s passions included: tackling home improvement projects for his and his daughter’s homes, terriers, the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals, as well as a voracious appetite for reading with a particular interest in military history and leaders. None of these surpassed his true joys; traveling with his wife and spending time with family. He is survived by Gladys, of the home; his brother Stanley (Gladys) Weiss of Palm Desert, CA, his two daughters Hali Smith of Overland Park, KS, and Julie Ellis of St. Louis, MO, three grandchildren: Danielle Lauren Ellis, Caleb Michael Weiss Ellis and Sydney Rose Ellis, and his beloved miniature schnauzer, Monty.
Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Sunday, January 6, 2019 at Rose Hill Cemetery, 6900 Troost Ave. In lieu of flowers; the family suggests contributions be made to either the KC Pet Project (kcpetproject.org/donate) or the Stray Rescue of St. Louis (strayrescue.org), both no-kill animal rescue and adoption centers that share Howard’s love for our canine companions. Those wishing to express condolences may visit the home of Hali Smith from 3 PM to 6 PM Sunday.
Please call the funeral home for further information. Upcoming Events Graveside , JAN 6.
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