ROBERT F. WEISS

1937 - 2021

WEISS, Robert F. Science, Scones and a Life Well Lived Robert Franklyn Weiss, 84, a former Lynnfield and longtime Back Bay resident – but always a proud son of the Bronx - passed away unexpectedly on May 6. He was Robert as necessary, but most everyone knew him as "Bob," and he was loved and respected by all. Bob's life was one of accomplishment, generosity of time and spirit, and an insatiable curiosity. A graduate of the Bronx High School of Science, he earned Bachelor's and Doctoral degrees in Aerospace Engineering from NYU's Guggenheim School of Aeronautics and a Master's degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics from MIT. His professional career began at the Avco-Everett Research Lab, but it wasn't long before he co-founded his own research and development organization, Physical Sciences, Inc., which he led for more than 30 years. Bob's children loved hanging out at his office and meeting all the brilliant scientists and engineers he employed, but admit that, even as adults, they never could explain to their friends exactly what kind of science and engineering was taking place at PSI. What they did understand was his dedication to the citizens of Lynnfield, where he served multiple terms on the town's School Committee and Board of Selectmen and was the driving force behind the creation of a senior living community in Lynnfield that has been providing essential housing for decades. After "retiring" from PSI, Bob did anything but retire – in fact, it was clear he was just getting started. He shared his management and technical expertise with companies and entrepreneurs across the country and was a fierce advocate for small businesses seeking to commercialize innovative technologies. An interest in blood cancers led to hours of reading medical journals, and with no formal education in biology or medicine he partnered with clinicians at leading research hospitals and submitted proposals to the NIH for novel therapeutic strategies. Though it was clear he would never really stop working, Bob increasingly filled his time with pursuits that brought him and others joy. He began taking piano lessons in his mid-50s and practiced religiously for 30 years even when it became apparent he wouldn't get to Carnegie Hall after all. In recent years, he challenged himself to become a baker, and while his engineer's mindset occasionally led him to try to outthink a recipe (with mixed results), he did learn to make a mean cranberry scone and delighted friends and family with his many delicious creations. But the true measure of his creative talents was his watercolor paintings of landscapes and cityscapes. He had an eye for just the right scene, whether in the neighborhood or during his travels around the world, and always rendered them beautifully. Bob is survived by Jane, his wife of more than 61 years. From their love-at-first-sight summer at the Lake Tarleton Club in Pike, NH, to the many years of joyful living in their Back Bay apartment after the suburban nest had emptied, there was never any question how much Bob adored and loved Jane. All you need to know is that, growing up in the Bronx, he was an ardent Yankees fan who subsequently married one of the world's all-time great Red Sox fans and never looked back. Whether working or pursuing his many hobbies, it was always with Jane at his side. To quote the end of the most recent volume of an informal memoir he'd been writing, "Jane made me who I am today." He is also survived by beloved older "sis," Marcia Posner, children Laura, Kathryn (Darren), John (Abby), and Neil (Laura), and grandchildren Jesse, Hallie, Olivia, Cole, Hank, and Lucia. Bob's family will hold a private graveside service, but looks forward to gathering family and friends as soon as practicable for a celebration of his life. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Bob's memory to the Bronx High School of Science at https://giving.bxscience.edu/donation For more information or to register in the online guestbook, please visit www.stanetskyhymansonsalem.com

View the online memorial for Robert F. WEISS