Zachary Samuel Weiss

Zachary Samuel Weiss died suddenly at his home in White Plains, New York, on August 2, 2021. He was a principled lawyer, investigator, and judge. More importantly, he was a loving father and husband.

Zachary was born in Manhattan on June 4, 1954 to his father, John Weiss, and his mother, Kathryn Darrell. He grew up in Evanston, Illinois, where he graduated from Evanston Township High School and won the state debate championships. He then received a bachelor’s degree from Sarah Lawrence College. Afterwards, Zachary completed law school at the University of Chicago. He would keep the friends he made in high school, college, and law school for life.

Zachary had a long and distinguished career as a public servant. He spent almost 15 years as a prosecutor at the Manhattan District Attorney’s office. He continued his work as a prosecutor at the New York State Attorney General’s office. In 2007, the governor of New York appointed him as chairman of New York State’s Workers’ Compensation Board, where he enacted ambitious reforms. Less than two years later, he accepted a position as an Administrative Law Judge in the federal Social Security Administration. Motivated by deep convictions of what he thought was right and wrong, he died as a champion for change within the Social Security Administration.

Zachary was whip-smart, a believer in justice, and deeply caring. He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Mary Schenck, his two children, Benjamin Weiss and Peter Weiss, and his sister-in-law, Katherine Schenck.

Memorial services are scheduled from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. for August 15, 2021, at the Ballard-Durand Funeral Home, 2 Maple Avenue, White Plains, NY 10601. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the White Plains Library or the ACLU.