Beth Weinstein

BETH WEINSTEIN Beth Weinstein, 61, passed away Jan. 29, 2012. She was born April 21, 1950 and was a five-year resident of Nevada. Beth was born in Philadelphia, the eldest of four daughters of Ralph and Dorothy Weinstein. She and her family moved to Las Vegas after the death of her father in 1960. She graduated from Las Vegas High School and received a Bachelor of Science degree from Barnard College in 1971, and an Master of Public Health degree from Yale University in 1973. She began her career as an environmental analyst for the State of Connecticut and held several other public health positions in Connecticut. From 1981-2002 she worked for the Connecticut Department of Public Health. She was the director of the AIDS Division from 1987-2002. In 1992 she helped usher in the law that led to the first needle exchange program in the country. She lectured in public health at the Yale University School of Medicine. She helped found Kehilat Chaverim and sang with the West Hartford Women's Chorale. She loved Israeli Folk Dancing and singing Broadway musicals and Hebrew hymns. She traveled to all parts of the globe, but loved Paris best. She will be remembered for her commitment, integrity, and finally, courage in the face of her disease, early onset Alzheimer's. Beth is survived by her husband, Dr. Richard Epstein of West Hartford, Conn.; her daughter, Rachel Weinstein Podolsky of New York City; her stepson, Noah Epstein of New York City; her mother and stepfather, Dorothy and Paul Eisenberg of Las Vegas; her sisters, Joan Weinstein of Los Angeles, Ruth Weinstein of Israel, and Amy Weinstein of Pasadena; and stepsisters, Merrill Eisenberg of Tucson, and Deborah Eisenberg of Israel. Services were private.