WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – If you hear a child who has cystic fibrosis refer to their disease as ’65 Roses’ you can thank Richard Weiss.
When he was 4 years old, he overheard his mother, Mary Weiss, who started the Palm Beach County chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation out of their Palm Beach home, making constant phone calls in an attempt to raise money and awareness for a disease few people had heard about in the 1960’s.
Cystic Fibrosis sounded like 65 Roses to Richard. That innocent observation would go on to become the slogan and symbol for the national Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
This week, 51-year-old Richard Weiss passed away. His memorial service will be held on Friday in Palm Beach County.
Richard is preceded in death by his brother Arthur, who lost his battle with Cystic Fibrosis in 1996 at the age of 36.