Pete Weiss

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Pete Weiss

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Posted by JCNJ on September 08, 2003 at 19:07:29:

Peter Weiss, Journal editor, columnist, dies

Monday, September 08, 2003

By Patricia Donnelly
Assistant managing editor

Peter Weiss, The Jersey Journal's longtime political editor and columnist, died at New York University Medical Center Saturday from complications after heart surgery.

For three decades, Weiss's keen observations chronicled Hudson County politics. He savored the scene as a chess player who took delight in anticipating the next moves. For him, though, it was the progression of the game that was most fascinating, not the end result.

"Being a political writer for The Jersey Journal is as crucial and influential a position as being the theater critic for the New York Times. Peter Weiss carried this tremendous responsibility with good humor and sparkling wit. He was always respected and admired," said Steven Newhouse, editor-in-chief of The Jersey Journal.

"In a political world where years of alliances and feuds create a byzantine web of intrigue, it takes a tremendous intelligence and keen sense of history just to decipher what is happening. Peter had a powerful combination of years of covering the beat, combined with a relentless curiosity and fascination that kept him fresh.

Weiss loved the irony in reporting on the ever-changing alliances, poking fun as arch enemies kissed and made up. The Political Whirl column was usually crafted with several short items, but there were annual favorites like his holiday gift list and quizzes. His simple word choice belied the fine quality of his writing, which was always fluid and graceful.

Weiss's reputation as an expert in the local political scene reached well beyond the county, however, and consultants on a state and national level would seek him out for his perspective on the local scene.

"The Jersey Journal and the community have lost a dear friend and an invaluable resource," Judy Locorriere, editor of The Jersey Journal, said. "Peter brought so much to every relationship, whether personal or professional, and asked for so little in return.

"He worked so hard at making this newspaper as good as it could be, often postponing vacations or working from his home on days off so that the paper wouldn't miss a news story.

"His wife, Managing Editor Margaret Schmidt, liked to say they were the managing editor team, because he was our library, our fact checker and our integrity standard.

"And he was a incomparable personal friend. Whether he was asking about my children and their triumphs and disappointments or asking if I could find a place for another friend's child as an intern at the paper, he was always selfless. And he was devoted to his wife, Margaret. We will all miss him so much."

In addition to the column, which appeared three times a week, he also covered county government and local elections and assigned and edited stories on municipal meetings by the newspaper's correspondents. His knowledge of political maneuvers over the last three decades was invaluable, as was his expertise in the process of local elections, both the legal aspects and the more notorious shenanigans.

When he left work on Aug. 19 for heart surgery, he said only half-jokingly that he had scheduled it between meetings of the county board of freeholders.

"The Journal will not be the same without Peter," Scott Ring, publisher of the paper, said. "I would look forward to reading his column, because I knew I could trust what he said. I knew he would have the real story."

It was in The Jersey Journal newsroom that Weiss, relaxed with his feet on the desk, gathered information for his column by taking calls from his many sources. Relaxed also described him sartorially: He preferred blue jeans and T-shirts but would occasionally pull a tie from his bottom drawer for a television appearance.

Weiss came to The Jersey Journal in 1970 after having worked at the New York Post and Long Island Press. Born in Brooklyn, he was a graduate of Erasmus Hall High School and Long Island University.

In 1996, he surprised more than a few friends by trading in his confirmed bachelor status to marry Schmidt. In his private life, he was a man of simple pleasures, preferring time at their Montclair home with Margaret and their dog, Mystery, enjoying a morning walk to the store for newspapers. An occasional day at the race track, closely following college and professional sports, a tidbit of political gossip, a mystery novel or a cold bottle of cream soda were among his greatest delights. He also loved folk music, crossword puzzles and trips to New Hampshire.

He is remembered, too, as a man of great kindness.

"He had a heart of gold and truly cared about the little people," said Ron Leir, a Jersey Journal editor and president of the Hudson County Newspaper Guild. "He went out of his way to do favors for them."

Weiss had been an active member of the Hudson County Newspaper Guild, having once served as president and in the days when the union had a softball team, Weiss was the pitcher, Leir recalled. Another former staffer recalled a generous offer Weiss made in his behalf:

"When The Jersey Journal was going through some tough times last year, I was among the staffers who would be leaving the paper as part of an agreement between the union and management," said John Petrick, a former Jersey Journal reporter now working for The Record of Bergen County. "When Pete found out, he took me aside and proceeded to tell me he would give up his job so I could stay, if that's what I wanted. I couldn't believe the gesture. Except it wasn't even a gesture. He really meant it. For a guy who didn't like to indulge in gushy displays of emotion, he had the biggest heart. And for someone so smart and with such an important job, he never took himself too seriously, either. I could still always just be silly and stupid in the newsroom with him. He had a great sense of fun."

Weiss was anxious to return to his desk and reminded his wife on Saturday of a list of issues the newspaper had to cover in the coming days. He'd already started writing his first column in his head. It was going to be datelined "Hiatus," he said, referring to the note the paper had run every day his column was missing: "Peter Weiss is on hiatus."

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: Peter Weiss, Journal editor, columnist, dies

: Monday, September 08, 2003

:
: By Patricia Donnelly
: Assistant managing editor

: Peter Weiss, The Jersey Journal's longtime political editor and columnist, died at New York University Medical Center Saturday from complications after heart surgery.

: For three decades, Weiss's keen observations chronicled Hudson County politics. He savored the scene as a chess player who took delight in anticipating the next moves. For him, though, it was the progression of the game that was most fascinating, not the end result.

:
: "Being a political writer for The Jersey Journal is as crucial and influential a position as being the theater critic for the New York Times. Peter Weiss carried this tremendous responsibility with good humor and sparkling wit. He was always respected and admired," said Steven Newhouse, editor-in-chief of The Jersey Journal.

: "In a political world where years of alliances and feuds create a byzantine web of intrigue, it takes a tremendous intelligence and keen sense of history just to decipher what is happening. Peter had a powerful combination of years of covering the beat, combined with a relentless curiosity and fascination that kept him fresh.

: Weiss loved the irony in reporting on the ever-changing alliances, poking fun as arch enemies kissed and made up. The Political Whirl column was usually crafted with several short items, but there were annual favorites like his holiday gift list and quizzes. His simple word choice belied the fine quality of his writing, which was always fluid and graceful.

: Weiss's reputation as an expert in the local political scene reached well beyond the county, however, and consultants on a state and national level would seek him out for his perspective on the local scene.

: "The Jersey Journal and the community have lost a dear friend and an invaluable resource," Judy Locorriere, editor of The Jersey Journal, said. "Peter brought so much to every relationship, whether personal or professional, and asked for so little in return.

: "He worked so hard at making this newspaper as good as it could be, often postponing vacations or working from his home on days off so that the paper wouldn't miss a news story.

: "His wife, Managing Editor Margaret Schmidt, liked to say they were the managing editor team, because he was our library, our fact checker and our integrity standard.

: "And he was a incomparable personal friend. Whether he was asking about my children and their triumphs and disappointments or asking if I could find a place for another friend's child as an intern at the paper, he was always selfless. And he was devoted to his wife, Margaret. We will all miss him so much."

: In addition to the column, which appeared three times a week, he also covered county government and local elections and assigned and edited stories on municipal meetings by the newspaper's correspondents. His knowledge of political maneuvers over the last three decades was invaluable, as was his expertise in the process of local elections, both the legal aspects and the more notorious shenanigans.

: When he left work on Aug. 19 for heart surgery, he said only half-jokingly that he had scheduled it between meetings of the county board of freeholders.

: "The Journal will not be the same without Peter," Scott Ring, publisher of the paper, said. "I would look forward to reading his column, because I knew I could trust what he said. I knew he would have the real story."

: It was in The Jersey Journal newsroom that Weiss, relaxed with his feet on the desk, gathered information for his column by taking calls from his many sources. Relaxed also described him sartorially: He preferred blue jeans and T-shirts but would occasionally pull a tie from his bottom drawer for a television appearance.

: Weiss came to The Jersey Journal in 1970 after having worked at the New York Post and Long Island Press. Born in Brooklyn, he was a graduate of Erasmus Hall High School and Long Island University.

: In 1996, he surprised more than a few friends by trading in his confirmed bachelor status to marry Schmidt. In his private life, he was a man of simple pleasures, preferring time at their Montclair home with Margaret and their dog, Mystery, enjoying a morning walk to the store for newspapers. An occasional day at the race track, closely following college and professional sports, a tidbit of political gossip, a mystery novel or a cold bottle of cream soda were among his greatest delights. He also loved folk music, crossword puzzles and trips to New Hampshire.

: He is remembered, too, as a man of great kindness.

: "He had a heart of gold and truly cared about the little people," said Ron Leir, a Jersey Journal editor and president of the Hudson County Newspaper Guild. "He went out of his way to do favors for them."

: Weiss had been an active member of the Hudson County Newspaper Guild, having once served as president and in the days when the union had a softball team, Weiss was the pitcher, Leir recalled. Another former staffer recalled a generous offer Weiss made in his behalf:

: "When The Jersey Journal was going through some tough times last year, I was among the staffers who would be leaving the paper as part of an agreement between the union and management," said John Petrick, a former Jersey Journal reporter now working for The Record of Bergen County. "When Pete found out, he took me aside and proceeded to tell me he would give up his job so I could stay, if that's what I wanted. I couldn't believe the gesture. Except it wasn't even a gesture. He really meant it. For a guy who didn't like to indulge in gushy displays of emotion, he had the biggest heart. And for someone so smart and with such an important job, he never took himself too seriously, either. I could still always just be silly and stupid in the newsroom with him. He had a great sense of fun."

: Weiss was anxious to return to his desk and reminded his wife on Saturday of a list of issues the newspaper had to cover in the coming days. He'd already started writing his first column in his head. It was going to be datelined "Hiatus," he said, referring to the note the paper had run every day his column was missing: "Peter Weiss is on hiatus."

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