Elyse Weissman of Eastport, a well known New York interior designer and author, died on May 6. She was 73.
She was born and raised in New York City. Ms. Weissman was a graduate of the High School of Music and Art, received her bachelor of art degree from Queens College, and her master’s degree from Northwestern University.
Ms. Weissman taught painting, drawing, cinematography, photography and art history at Northwestern University and at Kendall College, by the age of 21. She had a grant at Tufts University’s Lincoln-Filene Center for Citizenship and Public Affairs as an art consultant to co-develop an art and humanities curriculum for concepts for intergroup relations to be implemented in the public schools.
Early in her interior design career, she was well known for her murals, which graced the walls of prominent New York City commercial and residential spaces.
Ms. Weisman, a devoted mother to sons Ryan and Matthew Skolnick, often expressed that her most important, enjoyable and meaningful life’s experience was motherhood. She took great pride in her sons and in their accomplishments. She was an avid supporter of all of their endeavors. Ryan achieved a world ranking in tennis by age 16, and Matthew received awards and recognition for his original music compositions, as well as for voice and piano.
Ms. Weissman utilized her background and passion for the arts as a community advocate. She volunteered as chair of the National PTA Reflections Cultural Arts Program for 11 years in Westhampton Beach. The program encouraged young people to explore their talents and creativity through music, literature, photography and art. She also developed and implemented a literacy mentoring program, for at risk elementary school students in that community.
Ms. Weissman authored the book, “Come Rain or Shine,” as a tribute to her parents, Reyna and Samuel Weissman, and their extraordinary generation of Americans.
In the early 2000s, she donated her time and design services to implement the creation of the Westhampton Beach Minyan Synagogue. Ms. Weissman served as president of the Board of Directors of Encore Atlantic Shores HOA and served on the board for seven years.
She was an accomplished designer and president of her own company for over 30 years, and was recognized in the International Who’s Who of Entrepreneurs, and nominated for the Entrepreneurial Excellence Awards, by Working Woman Magazine, in 2001.
Ms. Weissman was married twice. She was a devoted daughter, sister, mother and friend.
She is survived by her sons, Ryan and Matthew; and her sister, Rochelle.
Services will be held at Werner-Rothwell Funeral Home on Sunday, May 9, from 2 to 4 p.m. Interment will be on Monday, May 10, at 11 a.m. at Westhampton Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Asthma Clinical Research Centers (ACRC), The American Heart Association for A-fib research, and to a Scholarship fund in her name at the Fiorello Lagaurdia School of the Arts in Manhattan, would be appreciated.
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