Jonathan Victor Weiss

Jonathan Victor Weiss, age 81, of Williamsburg, Virginia passed away peacefully on October 9, 2026 surrounded by his loving family. He was born on September 27, 1945 in Paterson, New Jersey and spent the major portion of his life in the service of others.

Jonathan will be remembered not only for the professional milestones he achieved, but for the enduring influence he had on the institutions he guided, the colleagues he inspired, and the many people whose lives he touched. He leaves behind a legacy defined by genuine compassion, selfless service, and an abiding desire to better the lives of others.

Overall, Jonathan devoted over forty years of his career to strengthening behavioral health care and offering steadfast support to individuals and families across the Tidewater and Greater Williamsburg region.

For more than a quarter-century he served as Clinical Director of Colonial Behavioral Health, where his thoughtful leadership, deep clinical insight, and determination to ease the burdens of those struggling with mental health and substance abuse challenges earned him widespread respect. In 2003, the profession formally honored that dedication, when he received the distinguished Amos R.D. Rollins Memorial Award.

Jonathan sat on several boards and councils during his life including Hospice House of Williamsburg, Old Town Medical & Dental Center, and Hope Family Center.

He is survived by his wife, Marcia Grubbs-Weiss; his children, Sean Weiss, Joel Weiss, Maria Weiss, and Benjamin Weiss and his wife Jessica; his grandchildren, Mitchell Reinhart, Sage Weiss, Rhiannon Davenport, Roman Weiss, and Eve Weiss; and his former wife, Mary Alice Shaker. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Helen Weiss and his sisters, Barbara Bonn and Andrea Horn.

A former Franciscan seminarian, he was a 1968 graduate of Catholic University of America’s School of Philosophy and earned a Master’s Degree in Social Work in 1971 at Ohio State University. Further, he earned a Master’s Degree at Appalachian State University in Public Administration in 1975.

Jonathan was a member of St. Bede Catholic Church of Williamsburg, Virginia. A Celebration of Life will be held on November 7, from 1 to 3 PM at Nelsen Funeral Home, Williamsburg, Virginia.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to Catholic Charities of Eastern Virginia (https://cceva.org/) or the Hospice House of Williamsburg (https://williamsburghospice.org/).