Note: An obituary was not issued at the time of passing in 2021 due to COVID-19 and an illness in the family.
Joseph William Weed of Rye, N.Y., is remembered fondly on the third anniversary of his passing on July 15, 2021. He passed away, surrounded by family, at the age of 85 after a brief illness.
Joe led a long and active life, enriched by many friends and enough sailboat races to fill many lifetimes. The son of Joseph John Weed and Ruth Pedersen Weed, Joe was born in New York City and grew up in Larchmont and Palm Beach, where his family divided their time. He attended Chatsworth Avenue School in Larchmont, Rye Country Day School, Palm Beach Private School, and The Choate School. He was a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and The Wharton School, with a career that included the William Esty Company and Bloomingdale’s Inc.
Joe grew up sailing out of Larchmont on his family’s cutter Sinaloa and New York 30 Oriole. He raced Luders 16 Betty (named for his sister) in his youth, and for many years raced International One Design (IOD) Mischief with great success. He served as chairman of the IOD class of Long Island Sound and established the Joseph J. Weed Memorial Trophy in memory of his father.
Joe competed for decades in offshore racing, including numerous Newport-Bermuda, Miami-Nassau, and Block Island races, among many others. He was a member of the Storm Trysail Club and its North Lights Society, having participanted in more than 15 Block Island Race Weeks.
In addition to his encyclopedic knowledge of yachting and boats, Joe was a connoisseur of show dogs, owning two black Great Danes over the years. He was an avid reader, regularly sharing and recommending books, and left an extensive library that reflected his many interests and lifelong curiosity.
Joseph W. Weed was predeceased by sister Elizabeth “Betty” Weed Foulk, wife of William H. Foulk, Jr., of Greenwich, Conn. He is survived by brother C. John Weed and his wife Sandy Weed of Larchmont; sons Joseph J. Weed, II and his wife Maia of Old Greenwich, Conn., and Edward Lewis Weed of Benningtov, Vt.; their mother (until her passing in 2023) Barbara Lewis Weed; and grandchildren Joseph “Lewis” Weed and Isabel Weed of Old Greenwich.
Joe was a beloved father and grandfather who shared his love of sailing, positive outlook, wide knowledge, and natural enthusiasm with his children and grandchildren, and the many friends, shipmates, and family members whose company he so enjoyed throughout his lifetime. Always outgoing, enthusiastic, and wonderful company, he is greatly missed.
