Honorable Leonard A. Weiss passed on Wednesday August 17, 2022 at his residence, predeceased by parents Joseph and Margaret Weiss; brother of Dr. Emerick Freidman and beloved wife of twenty-nine years Sandee (Sanders) Weiss. Dear friend of the late Ellen Catalano.

Judge Weiss' daughter, Cathee Weiss passed away less than 24 hours after her father in Los Angeles on August 18, 2022.

He is survived by son Jeffrey Weiss (Chris), son-in-law (Ivan Rosenberg), sister Lillian Rappaport, grandchildren Sarah and Daniel Rosenberg, Ivory and Jonathan Weiss. Nephew Arnold Freidman (Florence), Mark Rappaport (Julie O’Neil), nieces Judith Anton (Andrew), “Uncle” of Harry (Karen) and Brad (Renee) Rosenstein. Stepfather to Jennifer and Joshua Peerless.

He attended the University of Buffalo and the University of Oregon and graduated from Albany Law School in 1948. In 1977 he was appointed as a Justice of the City Court of Albany by Mayor Erastus Corning II and in November 1977 was elected to a full term as the nominee of all four major political parties. In November 1978 he was elected as a Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York without opposition. In January 1981, Governor Hugh L. Carey designated Judge Weiss to serve on the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court Third Department. In 1992 Governor Mario Cuomo appointed Judge Weiss the Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division, Third Department. Judge Weiss was reelected in November 1992 to a second term. Judge Weiss retired from the court and was elected as Chairman of the Albany County Democratic in September 1994. In April 1999, Governor George Pataki appointed Judge Weiss a Commissioner of the Public Service Commission of the State of New York. Judge Weiss left the Public Service Commission in August 2006. He was associated with McNamee, Lochner, as Of Counsel and and currently serves as Senior of Counsel in the law firm O’Connell and Aronowitz. The College of St. Rose conferred the Degree of Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa upon Judge Weiss in May, 1992. He served as trustee for fifteen years. He has been presented with the Felix J. Aulisi Award for Judicial Excellence and the Fair Administration of Justice by the New York State Trial Lawyers association in 1992. In 1994, he was presented the first annual award of the Association of Justices of the Supreme Court of the State of New York for Judicial Excellence and Leadership. The Albany Law School presented him with the 2005 Award of Distinguished Alumni in Government. He was a member of the New York State Electoral College for the nomination for President of the United States in 1996. He currently serves as Trustee of the Catholic Charities of the Albany Catholic Diocese. He was elected Grand Chancellor of the Knights of Pythias of the Domain of New York He was a Member of the Albany County and New York State Bar Association. Judge Weiss has been: Presiding member of the Council of Judicial Associations of the New York State Bar Association; President of the Association of Justices of the Supreme Court of the State of New York; Vice President of the American Inns of Court, Albany Law School Chapter; Judge Weiss served and was injured in the United States Army during World War II and was discharged as a disabled veteran. President of Temple Israel Board of Directors of Community State Bank. Judge Weiss has held membership in: Roma Lodge Sons of Italy; The Interdenominational Ministers Alliance of the Albany Area; Columbian Club of the Albany Knights of Columbus; Albany Lodge of Elks; Honorary Membership in St. Andrews Society; Gideon Lodge B’Nai B’rith; Albany City Lodge 540 Knights of Pythias; Benjamin Cardozo Society of the Capital District; New York State Magistrates Association.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Sunday August 21st at Temple Israel of Albany, 600 New Scotland Ave. Face coverings are strongly encouraged for those attending the services at the Temple.

Interment will be at Temple Israel Cemetery. Memorial Contributions may be made to Temple Israel of Albany, Albany Law School, Catholic Charities of the Albany Diocese or The College of St. Rose.

The livestream of the services at the Temple can be viewed by clicking the link below:

https://www.tialbany.org/livestream