Nancy S. Weintraub of East Hampton died on September 21 after a long illness. She was 65.
She was born in Chicago on June 10, 1950, to Lily Ann and Robert Smith, and she and her family moved to Miami. The oldest of three siblings, she was a strong and precocious child who was a protective and consistent presence in the lives of her sister, Linda, and brother, Ed, survivors said.
It was in Miami that she met Max Weintraub, and they were married within a year in East Hampton. In 1980, they took over the Maidstone Arms, and they later created Cafe Max, which quickly became a destination restaurant due to the culinary skills of her chef husband and her own marketing skills and flair for working the front of the house. Ms. Weintraub initiated Cafe Max’s early bird specials, hosted her renowned New Year’s Eve parties and garnered numerous awards from wine consortiums for the restaurant.
One of her proudest achievements was animal advocacy, working with various charities to stop animal abuse, and partnering with local animal shelters to spay and neuter feral cats. She also worked with the Animal Rescue Fund, where she started the annual Black Cat campaign to spread awareness and understanding about black cats, which are least likely to be adopted because of superstitious misinformation. She offered a Cafe Max gift card to everyone who adopted a black cat.
She most enjoyed her home and garden and spent many hours birdwatching in her backyard.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by a brother, Ed Martinez of Connecticut; a niece, Anastasia Martinez of Brooklyn; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews in the Midwest.
Visitation will be on Friday, September 25, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Yardley and Pino Funeral Home in East Hampton. A private burial will follow.
on Sep 22, 2015