"It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing 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 parents arrived from Germany. He resided in Center Moriches and East Moriches on the east end of Long Island for much of his life. As of late, he resided in Westhampton, NY and Windermere, FL.
Russell leaves behind a tremendous legacy, having touched millions of families in the country by means of his life-long passion and work. He was a pioneer and legend in the greenhouse and floriculture industry. He began work alongside his grandfather Otto and father Kurt, at an early age, producing azaleas in Queens, NY. He went on to study and graduate from Cornell University in 1957 and completed graduate studies at the University of Maryland. Eventually, Russell and his father branched out to begin the present-day company Kurt Weiss Greenhouses Inc., headquartered in Center Moriches, NY. Russell served as President and CEO from 1972 until handing the company off to the next generation in 2016. Under Russell’s leadership, the company quickly developed 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 early 1980s, Russell’s grand vision helped build the company into a mini-conglomerate providing landscaping service to the Park Avenue Mall in Manhattan, wholesaling other growers’ crops, manufacturing horticultural equipment, as well as building and distributing boilers for greenhouses and even shipping coal, for example, when rising energy costs caused many greenhouse businesses to suffer. He purchased Dauernheim, one of America’s oldest potted-plant growers, in addition to a company that produced water mats used to supply water to the plants, creating a vertically and horizontally integrated business.
Hard work and determination increased the company’s revenue by more than 110x over 40 years to include 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 largest greenhouse operation in North America with over 12.5 million heated square feet and approximately 2,600 employees. Part of Russell’s legacy lives on through the company, now in its 5th generation. His work, mannerisms, sayings, and passion are expressed today by his family, employees, friends, and through his patented plants that illuminate homes and gardens across the country.
Russell loved everything large; business, work ethic, generosity, and even animals, specifically large exotic birds (he had a collection of emus and peacocks). He had an insatiable appetite for travel, especially if it involved visiting greenhouse operations. He would often visit Europe just for a day trip or hop in the car and drive to Pennsylvania and back to “check on things.” His determination and love of life was obvious in his later years as he defied all odds with regard to his health.
Noordland Greenhouses, an engineering and construction company owned by Russell, was responsible for building greenhouses around the world, notably the construction of “The Land” at Epcot Center in 1983. He also built greenhouses at his alma mater, Cornell University.
In addition to his key business 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 board seat at the Seeley Conference Board of Directors at Cornell University.
Russell was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He is survived by his wife, Teresa Weiss, his two sons, Kirk and Wayne Weiss, his daughters-in-law Marcella and Audrey Weiss, his daughters Wendy Weiss Dailey and Anna Weiss Abrams, his son-in-law Leland Abrams, his step-son Damian Olech, 15 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. His son Douglas Weiss predeceased him.
Funeral services will be held privately 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 life was touched by Russell. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Russell C. Weiss Fund to support endeavors in the floriculture and greenhouse industry, with an emphasis on research and education https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-russell-c-weissfloriculture-fund or contact RussellCWeissFund@kurtweiss.com."
For more information:
Kurt Weiss
www.kurtweiss.com