ROGER WEISS

WEISS--Roger James. Roger James Weiss, son of Milton and Nathalie Weiss, passed away peacefully on July 14, 2024. He was 85. Roger was widely respected and much loved. He will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, scholar, trusted business associate and loyal friend. Roger had a passion for golf, thoroughbred racing and football. One of his horses was an entrant in the Belmont Stakes. He was awarded a 1970 Super Bowl ring as an advisor to the Baltimore Colts. Roger is survived by his wife, Caren, to whom he was married for 53 years; son Gregory, his wife Rachel and their children Jack and Alexis; stepdaughter Robin Benerofe, her husband Steve; stepdaughter Wendy Gordon, her husband Keith and their children Nicholas, Carey and Jacob; and seven nieces and nephews and their familes. Roger's brother, Stephen H. Weiss, and stepsisters Jane Schreiber and Barbara Stern predeceased him. Roger graduated from New Rochelle High School in 1957. He attended Cornell University AB'61/JD'64 where he was Editor-in- Chief of the Cornell Law Quarterly, a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Order of COIF. Upon graduation, Roger taught at Stanford Law School before practicing at Cleary, Gottleib, Steen and Hamilton in New York. He was a founding partner of the investment firm Weiss, Peck & Greer. Roger served on Cornell's Board of Trustees and Board of Overseers at Cornell's Medical College. He was bestowed the honor of Emeritus Cornell University Trustee and Presidential Councillor and named a lifetime Trustee of the Medical College. Cornell was in Roger's blood; his father, brother, son, daughter-in-law, grandchildren, stepsisters, nieces and nephews are Cornellians. He endowed several academic scholarships and made major gifts to Cornell as well as many other philanthropic causes. Roger Weiss was honored to be the first person to endow a university's head football coaching position, which he created and funded at Cornell. Former football coach, Maxie Baughan, said "Roger was as instrumental to the program as any coach or player." Roger is a member of the Cornell University Athletic Hall of Fame. He will be greatly missed.