Barbara Beatrice (nee Warner) Weiss was born February 5, 1928, in Ypsilanti, Michigan, the daughter of James F. and Marion F. (Hall) Warner. Weiss attended Michigan State Normal College and graduated in 1950 with a bachelors degree in music education. She was an active member of the Sigma Nu Phi Sorority serving as President in 1948. She was also a member of the orchestra, madrigal club and a basketball cheerleader. On August 19, 1950, she married fellow alumni Jack Weiss.

She returned to Eastern Michigan University in 1969 to obtain her master's degree in Music. Weiss was a member of the EMU Alumni Association where she served on the Board of Directors and as a former Past President; co-chaired the Pease Renovation Campaign and hosted EMU donor events at her home for the Arianna String Quartet and the Friends of Chamber Music at Pease. From 1950-53, she was employed as a vocal and instrumental teacher in the Wayne Public Schools. In 1964, she returned to teaching as a string orchestra teacher in the Ypsilanti Public Schools and served in that capacity until her retirement in 1985.

Weiss was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Ypsilanti where she served as an Elder/Trustee, choir member and former choir director, organizer and director of the bell choir, and numerous other leadership positions. She served as a volunteer for the Friends of the Ypsilanti District Library, former board member of the Ypsilanti Visitors and Convention Bureau, former board member of the Ypsilanti Savings Bank (now KeyBank), member of the Ladies Literary Club where she served as a former president and board member and was involved in helping the club’s foundation which gives scholarships to women students.

She was honored for her many years of volunteering and received the Ypsilanti Press Person of the Year in 1976; Michigan Minuteman Governor’s Award in 1983; Washtenaw United Way Heart of Gold Award (on behalf of the Corner Health Center) in 1990; Ypsilanti Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Service Award in 1992; Ypsilanti Visitors and Convention Pioneer Award in 1993; Nominated for Ann Arbor News Citizen of the Year in 1997; Award Winner of Women of Washtenaw County in 2003; and Dr. John W. Porter Distinguished Service Award in 2004. With all Barb’s volunteer work, she always found time for her love of music.

She continued to play music after her retirement, acting as the principal violist in the Plymouth Symphony Orchestra from 1985-1999 and was a violist with the Ypsilanti Symphony Orchestra for many years. She and her husband Jack Weiss had four children. Barbara Weiss died June 21st, 2013.