Expert Philatelic Authentication

William R. “Bill” Weiss, Jr., 72, of Bethlehem passed away peacefully on Tuesday November 10, 2015 in the Inpatient Hospice Unit at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown. He was the husband of the late Adelina C. “Addie” Weiss for 51 years before her passing on August 31st, 2015. Bill was born July 24, 1943 in Fountain Hill. He was the son of the late William R. Sr. and Charlotte E. (Pettit) Weiss. He attended Fountain Hill High School where he was a leading player on the basketball team. Bill retired after 20 years at Bethlehem Steel to pursue his childhood dreams of becoming an expert in stamps. Bill and Addie established their first stamp businesses in 1972, Weiss Philatelics and Weiss Auctions, and later expanded into Weiss Expertizing Services. He was a 48 year American Philatelic Society member and a very well known exhibitor and author of several books including The Foreign Mail Cancellations of New York City, 1870-1878, The United States 15c Stamp of 1870-1890, The Catalog of Union Civil War Patriotic Covers, Confederate States General Issue Stamps Used Adversity Covers, 1861-1865 and Collecting United States Covers and Postal History. Bill has also authored numerous articles in various philatelic publications. He taught several courses related to stamp collections at national conferences. Bill was a member of St. Ursula Roman Catholic Church, Fountain Hill, and a former member of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, Colesville, where he and his wife provided for the outdoor shrine and statue at that parish. Survivors: daughters, Lori A. Weiss and Donna Trovarello and her husband Charles; grandson, Alec Shara; brother, Thomas Weiss and his wife Annette; sister, Laurette Norman and her husband Roger; mother-in-law, Christina (Tina) Dolinsky Miranda; many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by a sister, Charlotte Good. Contributions: may be presented to Second Harvest Food Bank, 2045 Harvest Way, Allentown, PA 18104, Lehigh Valley Hospice 2166 S. 12th St. Suite 101 Allentown PA 18103, or to St. Ursula’s Roman Catholic Church.

Adelina C. (Addie) Weiss, 70, of Bethlehem passed away peacefully on August 31st, 2015 in the Inpatient Hospice Unit at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown after a brief illness. She was the wife of William R. (Bill) Weiss, Jr. for 51 years. Addie was born July 7th, 1945 in Nesquehoning. She was the daughter of Christina (Tina) Dolinsky Miranda and the late Samuel Miranda, Sr. Addie was an accountant for 10 years at Air Products and Chemicals before retiring. She assisted her husband in the operation of Weiss Philatelics and Weiss Auctions, specialized stamp businesses. Addie was a member of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, Colesville, where she and her husband provided for the outdoor shrine and statue at that parish. She also attended St. Ursula Roman Catholic Church, Fountain Hill. Addie was a volunteer for several years at Sacred Heart Hospital in Allentown. Survivors: In addition to her husband and mother; daughters, Lori A. Weiss and Donna Trovarello and her husband Charles; grandson, Alec Shara; brothers, Jerome Miranda and his wife Theresa and Samuel Miranda Jr. and his wife Francine; brother-in-law, Thomas Weiss and his wife Annette; sister-in-law, Laurette Norman and her husband Roger; godson, Andrew S. Miranda and his wife Amanda; her special aunt, Bertha Miranda; many nieces, nephews and cousins. Contributions: may be presented to the Carmelite Nuns of Allentown, 3551 Lanark Road Coopersburg, PA or Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital Pediatric Unit at 850 South Fifth Street, Allentown, PA, 18103.