Richard Barry Weiss

Richard Barry Weiss "Dick", age 84, died in Washington, DC, on November 10, 2024. He leaves behind Nancy Flinn, his life partner of 22 years and his daughters, Robin Boies and Kelly Weiss and husband, Michael Ianno, five grandchildren, and six step-grandchildren.
Dick was born in Oak Brook, Illinois, on March 13, 1940 to Julia Meehan Weiss and Louis Weiss. He matriculated at Elmhurst High School where he was President of his class. He went on to Dartmouth College, graduating with a major in Spanish and an MBA from the Amos Tuck Schooll at Dartmouth. He was a memeber of AD (better known in the day as Animal House). Dick married Karen Elizabeth Shields, his high school sweetheart, and settled in the Chicago area.
Dick Weiss' work experience included marketing management for consumer products in Caribbean markets based in Puerto Rico and subsequently served as Latin America and Canada Marketing Manager for Abbott in the early '70's, establishing functions in six Latin American countries and introduced Sucaryl artificial sweetener into Canada. He managed Keebler products, guiding advertising and promotion for Keebler lines, saving Club Crackers. He subsequently served as Director of Public Relations for the National Paint and Coatings, the paint manufacturers' association, where his talented campaign won the White House Private Sector Initiatives Award. Dick moved to the National Dairy Board, as Senior VP for Public Relations. As the industry spokesperson on the introduction of BST, a controversial artificial hormone for increased milk production, he brought the association's education programs in line with advertising messages and enlisted the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry to support chocolate milk.
For 10 years, Dick Weiss ran The Weiss Consultancy, an independent consulting company. In the early 2000's, he joined the National Grange (the nation's oldest rural advocacy organization, based in Washington, DC) as their COO.
Dick Weiss was a member of The Washington Ag Roundtable, a group of legislative and public relations professionals. After retiring in 2007, Weiss continued to consult for the National Grange as well as health care clients. He chaired the BOD of Retire Safe, an advocacy organization representing retired Americans and served on the the National Grange Advocacy Board of Directors.
Dick is remembered as a "Lovely Man" to his many friends and family, always supportive, kind, and a forever friend. Dick was a consumate golfer. And a wonderful friend to his dog, Nellie.
The world is a much better place for Dick Weiss having been in it! A celebration of Dick's life is planned for March 13, 2025, to be announced.