Lasting Memories

Leo Weinstein
May 15, 1921-May 4, 2009
Walnut Creek, California

Leo Weinstein, professor emeritus at Stanford University and a figure in world soccer circles, died of cancer on May 4 at the age 87.

Weinstein was born in Willelmshaven, Germany, on May 15, 1921. The son of a tailor, he and his family moved to Bremen when he was 5. Due to growing anti-Semitism, Weinstein and his brother Rudy set sail for New York in 1938 to live with their aunt and uncle. In 1942 he was drafted into the U.S. Army, and took on a communications assignment at Eisenhower's Supreme Headquarters near Paris. Other assignments took him behind enemy lines in his native Germany.

During his life he became fluent not only in German but in English, French, Spanish and Italian, and he developed a love for the humanities and for soccer. After the war, Weinstein studied French literature at Stanford and played on the varsity soccer team. He earned his Ph.D. in 1951, and became a professor there that year, continuing until his retirement in 1991. He published six books and numerous articles.

Weinstein was considered one of the world's foremost experts on soccer. He coached at Stanford, and served as an advisor to journalists for seven World Cup Soccer Championships.

He is survived by his third wife Natalie Dunn and by his niece Anne Loeser of Salt Lake City.