Gail Rosinoff Weiner

Gail Rosinoff Weiner passed away on July 26, 2023 at the age of 81, surrounded by the love of her family. Gail was the beloved wife of Harvey Weiner, loving mother to Marcia Weiner Mankoff and Mark Weiner, a loyal big sister to brother Bruce Rosinoff, welcoming mother-in-law to Doug Mankoff and Regina Weiner, and devoted “Mooma” to Sarah, Max and Eli Mankoff and Ezra Weiner. Born on April 7, 1942, in Brooklyn, NY to loving parents Marcia and Fredric Rosinoff, Gail grew up in Larchmont, NY, where she learned to dance and was a high school cheerleader. Gail graduated from Wheelock College in Boston in 1963 with her Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education, and from University of Texas at Dallas in the mid 1980s with a Masters in Special Education. The early years of her career were spent teaching elementary school in New York and Boston. Gail met Harvey Weiner at a fraternity party at Boston University in 1959, when she arrived as the date of Harvey’s roommate. Lucky for us, she decided soon after to make the switch. Gail and Harvey recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. The couple moved reluctantly for Harvey’s work from New York to Dallas in 1972 and were surprised and delighted to find both community and friendship in the city that quickly became their home. The couple became deeply invested in the Dallas Jewish community, becoming leaders at Akiba Academy and ultimately helped to found two synagogues, Beth Torah and Anshei Emet, now known as Anshei Torah. Gail was a trailblazer, becoming the first female President of a Conservative synagogue in Texas, when she became President of Anshei Emet in 1980. A lifelong teacher and advocate for children’s education, Gail recognized a gap in Jewish education in Dallas, so took it upon herself to create The Sunday Institute at Akiba Academy, a Hebrew School designed to meet the needs of children with learning differences. In 1988 Gail became the professional Director of Women’s Division of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas. She served in this role for five years, during which time she was instrumental in reinvigorating women’s philanthropy in Dallas by strengthening their Lion of Judah Endowment program (LOJE) and later introducing the Pomegranate program. Everything she did was with gusto and love. Gail was generous beyond measure, both in her devotion to community and to her family. Known for her legendary cinnamon sugar mandelbread and tender brisket, not to mention her delicious matzoh ball soup, she once showed up at LAX to visit Marcia’s family with an entire suitcase filled with vats of frozen matzoh ball soup on ice to be enjoyed at their upcoming Passover Seder. She knitted dozens of “fuzzies” for her grandchildren, and when their young friends expressed wanting one, she would find out their favorite colors and knit them a fuzzy, too. Gail was a trusted confidante and friend to many. Her children and grandchildren knew they could share their deepest feelings with her, without judgement. She was a safe space and soft-landing spot for anyone in need. We will miss her dearly, every day, but are grateful for the lessons and values she instilled in us, which made us better people, and we will carry in our hearts forever. If moved to do so, please consider honoring Gail’s memory by donating to the Foundation for Jewish Camp, or CHAI (Community Homes for Adults, Inc).

Gail Rosinoff Weiner

April 7, 1942 - July 26, 2023