No profession impacts as many people as parks and recreation. We are the only profession that increases property values and decreases juvenile crime. — Barry E. Weiss
Dedicated. Cheerleader. Educator. Mentor. Enthusiastic. Compelling. Passionate. Vibrant. Inspirational. Add to those words cherished, abundant, a gentleman, kind, gracious and an over-achiever and you get a glimpse of the character of Barry E. Weiss, retired parks and recreation director for the city of San Carlos, California, who passed away unexpectedly July 2, 2016. He died in the environment he loved, surrounded by family while on a walk at a Russian River campground his family frequented. Weiss leaves his wife of 45 years, Ann Keltner Weiss; two sons, Michael and Matthew and their families; brothers Steve and Bryan; nieces and nephews; and hundreds of personal and professional friends.
A member of the California Park and Recreation Society (CPRS), Weiss held many positions at the district, section and committee levels before being elected to the state board of directors and serving as Region 2 representative and vice president, president-elect, and president (2004-2005). He was also a member of NRPA, was elected to the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration in 2005, and was an active instructor at NRPA’s Director School, serving as a founding trustee. In 2009, Weiss received CPRS’ highest accolade, the Fellowship/Hall of Fame Award.
Born August 30, 1948, in Clarion, Iowa, Weiss entered the park and recreation profession after spending nine years as a high school history and government teacher. His 25-year park and recreation career included stints in agencies in the California cities of Alameda, Oakland, Palo Alto and San Carlos. He led San Carlos to 13 statewide CPRS awards and 14 district awards, including for facility design, park planning, economic development and innovative programming. The Alternative Fund Development Program he implemented in San Carlos, including a new foundation, cutting-edge naming policy and enhanced sponsorships securing private sector funds, was instrumental in the development of several facilities that would not have been possible without that program.
Weiss served as interim director in communities in Northern California after retiring as director at San Carlos in December 2008. Just one month later, he established Barry Weiss and Associates, a park and recreation leadership and funding consultancy. On his LinkedIn profile he stated: “I am clearly still flunking retirement J I recently finished as interim parks and recreation director for Brentwood, California, and continue consulting on private sector funding and other leadership issues for parks and recreation departments.” Weiss was a passionate baseball fan and served as a high school and college baseball coach for more than 30 years.
A highly sought-after spokesperson for parks and recreation, Weiss used CPRS’ VIP Action Plan to positively propel the elected officials and general public’s perspective toward parks and recreation. He integrated the plan’s vision, values and mission into the department’s total operation, which resulted in a 20 percent increase in the department’s budget in one year and a 1 percent increase in another when the city reduced the department’s total budget by 12 percent. His enthusiasm and passion for parks and recreation knew no bounds — all you had to do was spend a minute with him and you were “hooked.”
When he received the CPRS Fellowship Award, he was described as “a visionary, a leader and passionate advocate for parks and recreation. Weiss is a reputed leader in the profession, both statewide and nationally, and has campaigned endlessly promoting parks and recreation.”
Funeral services were held July 8 at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Pleasanton, California, where the life of this consummate park and recreation professional, who lived by the motto “Creating Community Through People, Parks and Programs,” was celebrated. The Barry Weiss Memorial Scholarship Fund has been established in his honor. If you’d like to make a contribution to this scholarship, contact the Oakland Parks and Recreation Foundation at 510.465.1850 for information.