Obituary of Richard Herman Weiner

ALBANY, NEW YORK - Richard Herman ("Rich") Weiner, 62, of 119 Lenox Avenue, Albany, died peacefully on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at his residence, with his family at his side, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Born August 19, 1949 in Monticello, New York to Sadie and Leo Weiner. Rich's love of the movies was nurtured early at the Rialto movie theatre in Monticello, New York, owned and operated first by his maternal grandfather and later by his mother. His diligent work ethic took shape when Rich was a young man, helping his father deliver fuel oil and hospitality supplies throughout the Catskills. Rich loved to tell people that he was at Woodstock, but had to admit that he was actually there delivering supplies for his father. Rich graduated summa cum laude from Union College in 1971, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and attended Stanford Law School, returning to Albany upon his graduation. Rich spent his entire legal career at Nolan & Heller in Albany, becoming a partner in 1977 and managing partner thereafter. A superb strategist possessed of a keen intellect, his practice concentrated in the areas of creditors' rights, corporate reorganizations, bankruptcy and commercial litigation. He represented major secured creditors in Bankruptcy Court cases, successfully represented debtors in some of the largest Chapter 11 cases filed in the Northern District of New York, and for twenty years was a member of the Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustee Panel for the Northern District of New York. Rich was an AV-rated lawyer, listed in The Best Lawyers in America (Bankruptcy) and New York Super Lawyers, and also served for many years as a member of the Board of Directors of Servico, Inc., a national, publicly-traded hotel owner and operator. Rich was a proud Albanian, passionate about the City's arts, and active in Capital District community affairs. He served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Albany Palace Theatre and the Homeless and Travelers Aid Society of Albany, and was President of the Albany Attack professional indoor lacrosse team. Rich and his wife, Carin, enjoyed the performing and visual arts in the greater Capital Region, and relished finding small, avant garde artistic offerings to fill their weekends together. Rich was equally proud to be a leader of his older son's Boy Scout troop at the Hebrew Academy. Intellectually curious and creative, Rich was well known for easy-going manner and unflaggingly positive outlook on life. His most frequently-used expression was "life is great." A quick wit with an infectious laugh, he embraced humor in his life, and his repertoire of stories ran deep. Rich had a natural talent for making life-long friends, towards whom he was kind, generous and loyal. His keen listening and problem-solving capabilities endeared him to all those who had the pleasure of making his acquaintance. Rich cherished his family and was actively involved in their lives. He loved to dine out, especially when he could walk to the restaurant from his home. He enjoyed meeting friends and business colleagues for breakfast, listening to Oldies radio stations, and riding his bicycle every morning on the streets of Albany. Not a Sunday went by that he missed watching 60 Minutes with his family, reading the Sunday Times, and finishing the day with at least one non-scored game of Scrabble. Survivors, in addition to his wife, Carin, include two sons, Jonathan (Margaret) and Samuel; step-daughter, Lauren; brother, Stephen (Diane), niece, Sarah, and nephew, Benjamin; brother-in-law, Eric (Sue); sister-in law, Helene (Mitch), nieces, Alissa (Francis) and Joy (Marty). Rich's brother, Howard, predeceased him. Funeral services will take place at Congregation Ohav Shalom, 113 Krumkill Road, Albany at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 16, 2012. Burial will follow at the Congregation Beth Emeth cemetery, 58 Turner Lane, Albany. The family will be observing Shiva from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday and Saturday (February 18) at the Weiners' home at 119 Lenox Avenue, Albany. In lieu of flowers, Rich requested that donations be sent to the Albany Homeless and Travelers Aid Society, 138 Central Avenue, Albany, New York 12206, or to the Upstate New York/Vermont Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 5 Computer Drive West, Suite 100, Albany, New York 12205-1641.