" It is with peachy sorrow that we announce the passage of Russell Charles Weiss ( August 1 , 1936 – June 15 , 2021 ) , better known to many as “ Mr. Weiss ” . He passed away peacefully with friends and family by his side . Russell was born on Long Island after his parent arrive from Germany . He resided in Center Moriches and East Moriches on the east conclusion of Long Island for much of his life . As of late , he resided in Westhampton , NY and Windermere , FL .
Russell leaves behind a howling bequest , having reach billion of phratry in the res publica by mean value of his life - long passion and work . He was a pioneer and legend in the greenhouse and floriculture industriousness . He begin oeuvre alongside his grandfather Otto and father Kurt , at an other years , farm azalea in Queens , NY . He went on to study and graduate from Cornell University in 1957 and completed postgraduate studies at the University of Maryland . finally , Russell and his father branched out to begin the present - solar day company Kurt Weiss Greenhouses Inc. , headquartered in Center Moriches , NY . Russell served as President and CEO from 1972 until handing the companionship off to the next generation in 2016 . Under Russell ’s leadership , the caller chop-chop develop from growing azaleas for the New York City carriage trade , to a full - fledged growing operation including azaleas , hydrangeas , annuals , perennials , tropical plants , and more .
By the other 1980s , Russell ’s grand vision helped build the company into a mini - conglomerate bring home the bacon landscaping service to the Park Avenue Mall in Manhattan , wholesaling other growers ’ crop , invent horticultural equipment , as well as construction and distribute boilers for greenhouses and even shipping ember , for example , when rise energy price make many greenhouse line of work to suffer . He buy Dauernheim , one of America ’s oldest potted - plant growers , in addition to a company that produced water Master of Arts in Teaching used to ply water to the plants , produce a vertically and horizontally integrate business .
Hard work and purpose increase the party ’s revenue by more than 110x over 40 years to let in 18 locations spread over Long Island , Canada , upstate New York , Connecticut , New Jersey , Pennsylvania , South Carolina , and Florida . By the early 2000s , at its peak , the company was ranked as the large nursery surgery in North America with over 12.5 million heat up square feet and roughly 2,600 employee . Part of Russell ’s legacy know on through the company , now in its 5th propagation . His work , mannerism , sayings , and passion are expressed today by his family , employees , friends , and through his patented plants that crystallize homes and garden across the land .
Russell loved everything heavy ; business , ferment ethic , generosity , and even animals , specifically tumid alien raspberry ( he had a assembling of emus and peacocks ) . He had an insatiable appetence for travelling , peculiarly if it involve visiting nursery operations . He would often visit Europe just for a solar day trip-up or hops in the machine and ride to Pennsylvania and back to “ see on things . ” His decision and lovemaking of life-time was obvious in his later years as he hold all betting odds with regard to his wellness .
Noordland Greenhouses , an engineering and construction company possess by Russell , was responsible for building glasshouse around the macrocosm , notably the twist of “ The Land ” at Epcot Center in 1983 . He also built greenhouses at his alma mater , Cornell University .
In summation to his key line responsibilities , Russell was formerly President of the Long Island Flower Growers Association , was a member of the Board of Directors of Rabo Bank , and held a dining table arse at the Seeley Conference Board of Directors at Cornell University .
Russell was a beloved hubby , father , grandfather , and great grandfather . He is outlive by his married woman , Teresa Weiss , his two Word , Kirk and Wayne Weiss , his daughter - in - practice of law Marcella and Audrey Weiss , his daughter Wendy Weiss Dailey and Anna Weiss Abrams , his son - in - law Leland Abrams , his stair - Word Damian Olech , 15 grandchild and 4 great grandchild . His son Douglas Weiss predecease him .
Funeral services will be held in private for family . However , a memorial service on Tuesday , June 22 from 2:00pm to 5:00pm at 95 Main Street , Center Moriches , NY will be open to anyone whose lifespan was contact by Russell . In stead of bloom , please consider donating to the Russell C. Weiss Fund to support endeavors in the floriculture and glasshouse industry , with an emphasis on research and educationhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/the-russell-c-weissfloriculture-fundor contact[email protect ] . "
For more entropy : Kurt Weisswww.kurtweiss.com
