Former Rockhurst University president, the Rev. Robert Weiss, dies at 91

Rockhurst University is mourning the death of a former president, the Rev. Robert Weiss.

Weiss, who was president of Rockhurst from 1977 to 1988, died on Thursday, June 9. He was 91 years old.

“He was a true gentleman in every sense of the word and a loyal son of Ignatius,” said the Rev. Thomas B. Curran, the current Rockhurst president, in an email to the Kansas City campus community. “He will be remembered as a man of deep faith and prayer who was a mentor to many and a friend to all.”

During his time as president, Weiss became known for bonding with students and serving the Kansas City community as a member of such civic organizations as the Kansas City Housing Development Corporation and Information Center, and the city’s Rotary International chapter.

Before leading Rockhurst, Weiss, who was from St. Louis, served in the Army as part of the 42nd Infantry.

His career in education included time as a Latin teacher and forensics coach at Rockhurst High School in the early to mid-1950s. He was an assistant professor of education and academic dean at Rockhurst University from 1964 to 1973, when he was appointed president of Saint Louis University High School. He held that position until he was named president of Rockhurst.

This story was originally published June 13, 2016 at 3:29 PM with the headline "Former Rockhurst University president, the Rev. Robert Weiss, dies at 91."