Leo Weinstein
1922-May 4, 2009
Stanford, California
Leo Weinstein, 87, a Stanford professor emeritus, died May 4.
He was born in Willelmshaven, Germany. In 1938, he and his brother, Rudy, set sail on the SS Rotterdam, arriving in New York to live with his aunt and uncle. He finished high school night courses, attended City College of New York, and got a scholarship to Florida Southern College.
In January 1942 he was drafted into the U.S. Army. After Army training in language, typing and teletype, Leo sailed to England on a troop carrier. He landed on Omaha Beach and took on a communications assignment at Eisenhower's Supreme Headquarters Allied Forces in Europe (SHAFE) Headquarters near Paris.
He was later transferred to Psychological Warfare Service which took him behind enemy lines, back to his native Germany where he used mobile microphones to convince German citizens to surrender. One of the darkest moments in his life came when he helped liberate the Buchenwald concentration camp that had claimed his father's life.
After the war, he returned to Florida Southern College and got his degree, then in 1947 enrolled in Stanford University's post-graduate program.
He studied French literature and played on Stanford's varsity soccer team from 1947 to 1951. In 1949, he was chosen to be part of the first Fulbright group to go to post-war France, then returned to Stanford and got his PhD in 1951. He began his academic teaching career at Stanford that same year, as a professor of French language and literature. He was fluent in French, English, German, Spanish and Italian. He continued as a full-time Stanford Professor until his retirement in 1991. He published six books and numerous articles.
As an avid soccer fanatic who considered the sport his greatest passion, he not only coached soccer at Stanford but also was the public relations director for the Oakland Clippers soccer team and an advisor to journalists for seven World Cup Soccer Championships. He married and divorced twice and at age 75 met the love of his life, Natalie Dunn.
He is survived by Dunn; one niece; and many friends.
Tags: teacher/educator
