Memorial

Steven Marc Weiss, Professor of Theatre Arts at Coe College, passed away on April 22, 2017 at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House after an extended battle with cancer. Born on January 17, 1950 to Tillie and Morton Weiss in Brooklyn, New York, Steven is survived by his wife Susan Wolverton, his son Ian Wolverton-Weiss, both of Cedar Rapids, his brother Lester Weiss and sister-in-law Lorena Huff of Brazil, three sisters - in - law, two bothers - in - law, six nephews and one niece.  He was preceded in death by his parents.  Steven received his Ph.D. in Theatre from The Ohio State University, his M.A. in Theatre from the State University of New York at Binghamton, and his B.F.A. in Theatre from Boston University. Since 2000, Steven was Professor of Theatre Arts at Coe College where he taught acting and directing and himself directed over 25 productions.  He was known as an outstanding mentor who had high expectations and inspired his students by enthusiastically sharing the love of his craft.

 For much of his tenure at Coe, Steven tirelessly chaired the Marquis Committee, with a mission to bring world-renowned performers to the Coe campus for the benefit of students, faculty, staff and the greater Cedar Rapids community.  In recent years, Steven also directed Coe’s New York Term.  Among many honors and scholarly presentations, he served as the Visiting Faculty Director in London for the Associated Colleges of the Midwest off-campus program in London and Florence during 2014.  

In addition to his work as a director, Steven acted at Riverside Theatre, The Old Creamery Theatre, Iowa Summer Rep at the University of Iowa, and had mounted his own productions at the Paul Engle Center and Cherry Building.  Prior to his time in Iowa, Steven enjoyed an acting career at professional theatres on the east coast and worked for several years as a piano accompanist for the Joseph Papp theatre in New York City.  In recent years, Steven hosted a film series at the Cedar Rapids Public library as a means of sharing his passion for classic films.  His extensive classical CD collection was a great sense of joy.   Steven will be remembered for his quick wit and incisive intellect as well as his deep love and devotion to his family.  He took great pride in the performances his son, Ian, has given in everything from show choir to the Theatre Cedar Rapids stage.  Memorials in Steven’s name may be directed to Coe College for the Steven Marc Weiss Travel Away Scholarship, or to the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House.

A formal Remembrance and Celebration of Life for Steven will be held at Cedar Memorial in Cedar Rapids on June 10 at 3:00 p.m.  

Susan and Ian wish to thank friends and family who so generously supplied food, words of encouragement, massage sessions, letters, cards, visits, love and support to Steven and the family during his extended illness.  A very special thank you to all of the nurses and staff at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House and the home hospice team who took such great care of Steven and shared willingly in his wit as he strove to face his difficult journey with as much humor as he could muster.  You are angels all.