1926 - 2022
Norma Weiss, a long time Los Altos resident, passed away on July 13. She was born in New York City in 1926 to immigrant parents and she graduated from Hunter College in 1947 with a major in Psychology and a minor in Philosophy and Sociology. With her husband, Jerry, along with her young family, they followed his parent's west to Los Angeles in 1957 and then moved north in 1963 to Sunnyvale and to Los Altos in 1973.
She taught Special Education in the Sunnyvale School District from 1968-1981 and during that time, at the age of 50, she also completed a Masters Degree in Education from the University of San Francisco in 1975. While teaching in Sunnyvale, she was also a member of the Curriculum Council from 1977-1983, and a member of the Community Advisory Committee for Special Education from 1979-1982.
In 1985, after retirement from the school district, she received an Instructor Credential for the California Community Colleges in Special Education and in 1990 she received a similar credential for Language Arts and Literature. With these credentials she became an instructor in the Lifelong Learning Program at Foothill College, where she taught Introduction to Literature and other classes, she loved reading and also led book and film groups and taught various classes at the JCC, and at senior centers such as Lytton Gardens in Palo Alto.
Norma was always curious and active, and loved learning, helping and doing. She did not sit still, she kept a beautiful home and loved to cook and entertain. After retirement, in addition to the classes she taught, she played bridge every week, did needlepoint and knitting, and was active in Haddassah and Sisterhood. She had many friends whom she loved and she had a great sense of humor, bringing a smile everywhere she went.
Along with her husband, she was one of the founders of Congregation Kol Emeth, where they remain members after some 60 years. Together, they created a warm and comfortable home for their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, and were excellent role models. She is survived by her three children, Deborah, David and Elisa (Rabbi YY Rubenstein), two grandchildren, Nicole and Jason (Sharona), and three incredible great-grandchildren, Ariella, Shir and Daniel.
May her memory be a blessing for everyone that knew her.