Barbara "Barby" Weiner

Barbara “Barby” Marlene Levin Weiner, age 80, died peacefully on Sunday, January 4, 2026, in Houston, Texas. Barby was born on May 8, 1945, VE Day, the day World War II ended in Europe, at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C., to Dr. David R. Levin (Hebrew name: Daveed) and Molly P. Rubin Levin (Hebrew name: Malka). Her Hebrew name was Bina Marum. She grew up in Bethesda, Maryland, where her vibrant personality, deep loyalty, and unmistakable sense of humor were already evident from a young age. She attended Walter Johnson High School and began her college education at the University of Wisconsin. During her sophomore year, she met Leonard (“Lenny”) Weiner. The two married soon after, and Barby became pregnant with their first child, Yale. She later transferred to the University of Maryland, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education, while Lenny was working at a trial law firm. Barby went on to complete one and a half years of graduate study in Education at the University of Houston. Barby was the loving wife of Lenny for 60 years, a marriage defined by devotion, laughter, partnership, and shared adventure. They shared a language entirely their own, filled with private jokes, sayings, and humor that reflected the depth of their bond and the joy they found in one another. She was the proud mother of Yale Jared Weiner, of blessed memory; Dr. Jason Powers; and Amy Peck. Her greatest joy was being Grandma Barby, a devoted and fiercely proud grandmother to Sarah Powers (23), Danyel Powers (20), Mia Powers (15), Mickey Peck (14), and Fisher Peck (8). She showed up, always, for every play, game, birthday, party, and milestone, her answer almost invariably “yes.” Barby lived life at full volume. She was a legendary host, a fabulous and intuitive chef, and the consummate party thrower, often the life of the party and occasionally the one rollerblading through it, whether or not rollerblading had been invited. She was a dancing fool in the very best way, a collector of tchotchkes, a Canal Street lover, and someone who believed rules were merely suggestions. She never took no for an answer. She was madly talented at cards, starting with craps when her children were young, moving to blackjack, and ultimately finding her true calling in poker, which she played passionately for the past two decades. She loved Vegas, the buffet she affectionately called “the trough,” and her two cherished poker groups: a weekly $10 game and a weekly $100 “high rollers” game. Over the years, Barby ran several businesses, including American Dog Training, American Gold Company, and E Plus Promotions. True to form, she made far more lifelong friends than money. Barby was deeply proud to be Jewish and loved Israel. In 1964, she participated in the original Masada archaeological dig. She was Bat Mitzvahed, as were all of her children and grandchildren. She was a founding member of the Houston Holocaust Museum, an active board member of The Lowenstein Foundation supporting education and numerous charitable causes, and involved with the Latin Women’s Initiative. She was a member of Congregation Beth Israel and Congregation Beth Yeshurun. Barby will be remembered as funny, loyal, loving, resilient, passionate, and endlessly fun. People will forever remember her infectious energy, her optimism, her courage, her “salad in a bag,” and the way she made life feel like a celebration worth attending. She was preceded in death by her beloved son, Yale Jared Weiner, of blessed memory, and her parents, Dr. David R. Levin and Molly P. Rubin Levin. She is survived by her devoted husband, Leonard Weiner; her children, Dr. Jason Powers and Amy Peck; her daughter-in-law, Amy Powers; her son-in-law, Geoffrey Peck; her grandchildren; her close cousins Dr. Rhonda Rand, Rochelle Rand, and Mimi Blitz; and an extended family of friends who became family through decades of love and loyalty. The family extends profound gratitude to MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Department of Lymphoma & Myeloma, especially Dr. Robert Orlowsky; Houston Hospice; Houston Jewish Funerals; Rabbis Adrienne Scott and Brian Strauss; Congregation Beth Israel; Congregation Beth Yeshurun; and the entire Weiner family and community of friends, without whom this journey could not have been navigated.

Barbara "Barby" Weiner

May 8, 1945 - January 4, 2026