Howard Robert Weiner

Howard Robert Weiner July 8, 1939 - May 8, 2026 We’re so sad to share that our sweet dad, Howard Robert Weiner, passed away peacefully in his sleep on May 8th at 86 years old, due to complications of dementia and several strokes. He’ll be missed beyond measure by his daughter, Robin (David Gusick), son, Doug (Jocelyn) and his six grandchildren, Sam, Sydney, Cooper, Jonah, Ethan and Margo. He was predeceased just 4 ½ months ago by his wife of 61 years, Susan, and will be sorely missed by many friends and relatives. Howard was known to his family and friends for most of his life as a devoted runner. He passionately trained for and ran numerous marathons, including the New York and Chicago marathons multiple times, along with Arizona, San Diego and others. He ran races abroad during his travels with Susan, and it was common for him to casually run 7 miles a day at home. Sometimes he’d get a bit ahead of himself and run so far that he’d need to call Susan to pick him up. He proudly displayed medals and certificates throughout his house, and much of his identity was tied to running. One of the most challenging times in Howard’s life was when he had to give up running due to shoulder and other injuries. Determined to keep exercising, he swam laps, did calisthenics and weights at home, and found any set of stairs he could climb (at home, at beaches, apartment building stairwells, wherever!) and walked up and down, over and over again. In his last years dealing with falls, movement issues and only one side of his body working, it was clear that he was “once a marathon man, always a marathon man” and a true warrior, Howard was programmed to just keep going. Nurses and doctors were continually shocked to observe him beat the odds, bounce back numerous times and best of all, somehow smile and laugh through it all. We’d hear things like “Everyone loves Howard,” “He’s a wonder,” “He’s a mystery,” “We just cannot explain Howard’s ability to bounce back,” and “He makes us all laugh.” Howard was born on July 8, 1939, in the Bronx to Edna and David, and he and sister Rita grew up there. Some of his favorite memories were participating on an elite, champion high school handball team and playing baseball as a first baseman. He was an avid sports fan and grew up with his dad taking him to Yankees games. He remained the most loyal, committed Yankees fan you could ever imagine. Howard rarely missed a game on TV. Whenever the Yankees made it to the World Series, we joked that he earned his bragging rights more than anyone we knew, unlike the “fair weather” fans who only watched if the Yanks were good that year. No matter what, the game was on. Our house was filled with the soft buzz of the Yankees crowds on tv, mixed with the announcers shouting, “Yankees win, THE Yankees wiiiin!!!” when they did indeed pull through. During his last days and weeks, we watched Yankees highlights and documentaries with him, and even at the point where he could no longer speak or move, he smiled and pumped his fist in the air, in celebration of any home runs or good plays. Howard was a true intellectual, lifelong learner and passionate reader. He read thousands of books in his lifetime, mostly nonfiction and many on obscure topics. He received his undergraduate degree at NYU and then dabbled very briefly in dentistry, attending University of Pennsylvania dental school before realizing his true passion was history, not teeth. He pivoted and got his master's in history at Columbia University, before returning to NYU for his PhD in history, earning a “Dr.” title. During his time at NYU, he briefly taught science at Middle School 80 in the Bronx, where he met his wife Susan, a teacher at the same school. They married when he was 26 and she was 23. We still have some of the poetic, quote-filled love letters he wrote Susan when he was courting her. Howard went on to become a college professor and chairman of the history department at the College of Staten Island in the CUNY system. He was considered an expert on the history of New York City (often cited in books and publications), and also specialized in urban, Italian and American history. Howard loved to travel, and took a number of sabbaticals to do research abroad, including in Rome as the recipient of the ultra-prestigious Fulbright scholarship (his family joined him - his kids attended pre-school and first grade in Italy) and Israel (he earned a coveted spot living for a summer with his family in the spectacular artist colony in Jerusalem called Mishkenot Sha’ananim, amongst esteemed intellectuals, including the poet laureate at the time). Howard and Susan lived on the 15th floor of an apartment building on Kissena Blvd. in Flushing, Queens for 14 years, where they brought up their children (keeping up traditions like Angelo’s Italian food every Friday night where Howard alternated between shrimp fra diavolo and sausage and peppers, and lo mein on Sunday nights at Hong Ying on Mott Street in Chinatown), before moving to a house closer to the city in Sunnyside Gardens. Howard was thrilled that he could easily hop on the 7 train and head into Manhattan, where his favorite activities included attending lectures and exploring the libraries at Columbia University (using his alumni access ID), popping into Zabar’s, browsing Strand and Barnes & Noble bookstores, finding the best Indian and Chinese food lunch specials, and walking around reading the menus outside restaurants just for fun. He and Susan were longtime NY Philharmonic, Lincoln Center Theater and Joyce Theater members and enjoyed countless concerts, films, Broadway shows, and off and off-off Broadway shows. When they were in their 30’s, Howard and Susan purchased a second home in Hampton Bays, NY. They spent weekends and vacations there most of their adult lives, and loved the ocean, walking in Southampton and Sag Harbor, lobster rolls, lobster special dinner deals, and walking and running on the steep Ponquogue beach bridge. One of Howard’s favorite pastimes was reading the NY Times cover to cover and falling asleep on the couch with the paper on his lap, usually with a Knicks or Yankees game in the background. He also loved grilling hot dogs, burgers and steaks in their backyard, keeping his charcoal grill going and insisting that the food tasted better than with a gas grill. Howard and Susan traveled extensively, even with small children - besides living in Italy and Israel, they took their kids to many countries including Greece, Spain, France and Morocco. Before home exchange was a thing, they found a way to exchange their apartment in Flushing for an apartment in Rome. Later as empty nesters, they continued traveling on group tours to places around the world including Asia, Europe and South America, where they made special, lasting friendships along the way. Howard prided himself on being a bit of a loner and “absentminded professor” who enjoyed doing his own thing. However, without a doubt, his life and emotional connection with others took on a whole new meaning when he became a grandfather. His six grandchildren absolutely treasured their “Papa” and they meant the world to him. When his first grandchild, Sam, was just a baby, Howard would run from his house in Sunnyside, over the 59th St. Bridge, way downtown to 14th St and Avenue A to visit Sam once a week and sit in a rocking chair, reading him books. That devotion and intense love continued with the birth of Sydney, Cooper, Jonah, Ethan and Margo. He took such pride in attending their sports games, shows and concerts, and adored watching them grow up. He especially enjoyed trips to Mexico and Florida with all of his grandchildren. After selling their Queens house a number of years ago, Howard and Susan moved permanently to Hampton Bays. Howard got his intellectual fix with trips to the Stonybrook University library, and joined a book club with other men his age at the local Hampton Bays library. He replaced his Columbia University excursions with online “one day university” courses. He never stopped learning. He loved to cook and make coffee in the mornings. When friends visited, they often requested “Howard’s famous salad dressing,” and his homemade chicken soup was a big crowd pleaser. Howard often visited a Hamptons turtle sanctuary, and even “adopted” a turtle that lived at the sanctuary. He was a collector of all-things-turtle and had shelves full of turtle figurines. He said he related to turtles since they were slow and steady. Howard also enjoyed planting flowers at their house, sometimes enlisting the help of his grandchildren. He and Susan often spent time on the North Fork of Long Island, buying apple pies at Briemere farms (served at home with Carvel vanilla ice cream), visiting wineries and listening to bands outside (he especially enjoyed jazz music). With a decline in their health and a wish for warmer weather, Howard and Susan spent the last chapter of their lives in Florida, first in Jupiter and then in Delray Beach. Howard was always a genuinely nice guy, but he became especially sweet and affectionate in his later years. He made us smile even during his time in an assisted living/memory care facility, with his newfound love of Coca-Cola and his comments about how delicious it was after every sip (he was a health nut and never allowed himself to drink it), and his deep appreciation of every single bite of vanilla ice cream after lunch and dinner. Despite debilitating challenges with mobility and cognitive decline in the last part of his life, Howard never once complained. He maintained his cheery and positive disposition, told his silly jokes (which became silly, short phrases), and remained remarkably aware and alert (with on-and-off recall of long-term memories), perked up with the music we played him (music truly woke up his brain), and he recognized and treasured his family until the very end. We’ll miss and think of him often, particularly when we see a marathon, a turtle, a copy of the New York Times, a bowl of lo mein or a Yankees or Knicks game. As his grandson Sam asked us to tell him during his very last days (safe to say as the oldest, he was speaking for the other five grandchildren), “Tell him I love him so much, and that he’s been the greatest papa a grandchild could ask for. Not a mean bone in his body, always caring and kind. I couldn’t have asked for any better.” In lieu of flowers, if you’re inclined to make a donation in Howard’s name, a cause that was extremely important to him is http://keshet.org/donate Keshet provides unique, extraordinary, caring support and resources to individuals with special needs, including Howard’s grandson who he adored, Jonah. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to our friends and family for your outpouring of love and support. Now go out and climb some stairs in honor of Howard! And next time you’re with us and have a cocktail in hand, let’s toast to our dad and his legacy of six genuinely kind, amazing grandchildren! ❤️ With all our love, Howard’s children Robin Gusick & Doug Weiner