Funeral Details

Barry P. Weiss, 85, of Highland Park, Illinois, passed away on October 11, 2026.

Barry grew up on the South Side of Chicago and attended Hyde Park High School before graduating from the University of Illinois.
He met the love of his life, Beth Zisook, when her family moved in across the street. Barry and Beth had their first date in 1957 and were married in 1960, having recently celebrated 66 years of marriage. Barry was a loving husband and father as well as a booster of others in life.

Barry built a long and successful career in commercial real estate, beginning at Benj. E. Sherman & Sons. In 1986, he co-founded Kaplan & Weiss Associates with his longtime partner, the late Arthur Kaplan, and was later joined by his son, Larry. Following Kaplan & Weiss, Barry co-founded Jacobs Weiss with Peter Jacobs. Barry then formed JTJ Weiss with Joe Pasquesi, Tony Licata, and the late John Coleman. Lastly, he ran Weiss Associates until his retirement.

Throughout his career, Barry left a lasting mark on Chicago retail real estate. Barry was one of the early real estate brokers who focused on Michigan Avenue retail, and his contributions included flagship stores for Crate & Barrel, Brooks Brothers, and Ferragamo. His many retail accomplishments also included representing an impressive roster of clients, including Starbucks, Jacobs Bros. Bagels, Fannie May Candies, Osco Drugs, Nine West, Mrs. Fields Cookies, and the Terra Art Museum. But Barry’s impact went well beyond the buildings and deals he helped shape. He genuinely cared about people and was known throughout the real estate community for his supportive, collaborative approach and the lasting impact he made on younger professionals as they built their careers.

As a young man, Barry particularly enjoyed being a camp counselor, an early reflection of the warmth and connection with others that would remain important throughout his life. He treated everyone with the same dignity, whether a janitor or an ambassador. Barry shared his love of nature with Beth. They loved taking walks in forest preserves and along the lakefront with their sons, Larry and Jeffery, and were members of the Chicago Botanic Garden from the year it opened. Later, he became actively involved with the Northwestern Medicine Liver Transplant Program, having received a liver transplant himself.

Most of all, Barry loved his family and loved life. He will be remembered for his positivity, generosity, sense of humor, genuine concern for others—and his well-known love of candy.

Barry is survived by his beloved wife of 66 years, Beth; his sons, Larry and Jeffery, and Larry’s wife, Susan; his sister, Barbara Weiss Herwitz, and her husband, Jim; his sister-in-law, Joanne Weiss, widow of his brother, Rabbi Ronald M. Weiss; his brother-in-law, Allan M. Zisook, and many cherished cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. Barry was preceded in death by his parents, Lillian, and Isidore Weiss; Sylvia Weiss; and his sister, Diane Plotkin, and her husband, Manuel.

The world was a better place with Barry. As his family summed it up, “Dad was such a good guy and we were crazy about him.” May his memory be a blessing.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Barry’s memory to support transplant research at Northwestern University’s Comprehensive Transplant Center.

To Donate Online: Donate to Northwestern University.
Alternatively, donations may be made through Transplant Village.
Please designate your gift in memory of Barry P. Weiss.
To Donate by Check: Please contact David McCreery for instructions:
David McCreery
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Development & Alumni Relations
420 E. Superior Street
Arthur J. Rubloff Building, 9th Floor
Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: 312-503-6099
Email: david.mccreery@northwestern.edu

This obituary is protected against unauthorized reproduction or redistribution without the funeral home or family's permission.