Cornelius F. "Dick" Weiss Jr.

Dick Weiss, 90, of Cary, NC passed away at his home, Heartfields Assisted Living, on Wednesday, December 5. Dick was born April 22, 1922 in Brooklyn, NY. After graduating from Cooper Union Institute of Technology with a degree in Electrical Engineering, Dick joined the United States Air Force, serving as a B-17 co-pilot during World War II. A member of the 390th Bomb Group/570th Squadron, Dick flew 35 missions in the European theater, participating in the D-Day invasion and ultimately, the liberation of France. For his outstanding military service, Dick was honored with numerous awards, including the Distinguished Flying Cross.

In 1944, Dick married the love of his life, Catherine “Kay” Zoller. Dick and Kay raised three sons in New York while Dick worked as an innovator at IBM, pioneering the use of solid-state electronics in computers. IBM sponsored Dick in the Sloan Fellowship Program at MIT, where he earned his master’s degree in 1961. After relocating to Raleigh with IBM in 1971, Dick led a team in the Field Engineering Division, before retiring in 1979 as the Director of Maintenance Technology. Upon leaving IBM, Dick joined his sons, Bill and Tim, in their distribution business, Weiss Enterprises. He enjoyed working with his sons and kept his mind sharp as a mentor to both.

Dick was an active member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Cary, and could always be counted on for a warm smile and enthusiastic greeting. When Dick and Kay moved to Heartfields, Dick relished his weekly get-togethers with “the guys.” Whether enjoying scotch and sushi, or coffee with Sambuca, Dick and his buddies (and often his sons) entertained each other with jokes and stories, and tales of family and friends. Dick was a generous soul who found sincere joy in giving to others, and a true “family man” who cherished the time he spent with those he loved.

Preceded in death by his beloved Kay, Dick is survived by their three sons and their families, Richard and Pam Weiss of Northford, CT (Michael and Nicole); Bill and Tammi Weiss of Cary (Justin and Kelsey), and Tim and Diane Weiss of Raleigh (Tyler), as well as three adored great-grandchildren.

A funeral mass in Dick’s memory will be held Friday, Dec. 14 at 12:30 p.m. at St. Michael the Archangel, 804 High House Rd., Cary. Prior to the mass, the family will receive visitors at the church, beginning at 11:30.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Wounded Warrior Project in memory of 2nd Lieutenant Cornelius F. Weiss, Jr. at www.woundedwarriorproject.org.