At their annual gala on Sunday, October 11th, Rockland Jewish Family Service (RJFS) will be honoring the memories of two pillars of the Rockland Jewish Community, Judge Alfred Weiner z’l and Doris Renée Weiner z”l.
Al and Renée were very active in so many aspects of Jewish life in Rockland County. Al served as president of RJFS for five years and was also on the Boards of Jewish Federation of Rockland County and Rockland County Israel Bonds. Renée was an active RJFS board member and served on the boards of Women’s Division of Israel Bonds, and JCC Rockland. She also ran a very popular classic film series at the JCC for many years.
Their community involvement and leadership extended beyond the Jewish community as well. Al served as President of the Rockland County Historical Society and the Rockland County Mental Health Association. He was also a founder of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Rockland County. Renée was an active member of the Town of Ramapo Dept. of Parks and Recreation Board.
Alfred and Renée met in Syracuse, where Al was practicing law and Renée was teaching. He was a native of Spring Valley, where his family's roots ran deep. His grandparents settled in the community in 1889 and operated a farm in Spring Valley, establishing a legacy that would continue for generations. Renée grew up in Walton, NY, a village of approximately 5,000 residents located between Roscoe and Oneonta. They subsequently moved to Spring Valley to continue Al’s law career and Renee taught English at Spring Valley High School. Al’s judicial career spanned over 45 years and included Family Court, Surrogate Court and Supreme Court. Throughout this time, Renée was his ex-officio campaign manager while raising their two daughters, Beth and Dana. She eventually returned to teaching English and Public Speaking, primarily at Ramapo High School for 25 years and retired in l999.
Judge Weiner’s professional activities included serving as President of the NY State Family Court Judges Association and the New York State Surrogate Court Judges Association, a former Executive Committee member of the Association of Judges of the Supreme Court of the State of New York and an Adjunct Professor of Law at Pace University Law School. He also served as a First Lieutenant and Judge Advocate General Corps in the U.S. Army.
For all of their professional and volunteer accomplishments, Renee and Al were happiest spending time with their family; Beth and Bruce and their children, Alyssa, Melanie and Will, Sam and Abigail, and Dana and Michael and their children, Rebecca and Noah. Together, Al and Renée set an example for their children and grandchildren, of a life devoted to service. They believed that giving back to the community was both a privilege and a responsibility, and they devoted decades of leadership, volunteerism, and philanthropy to organizations that supported families, children, education, history, mental health, and Jewish life.
Dana Marlowe (Al and Renee’s daughter)
RJFS and Federation Board Member
Maria Dowling, CEO