Obituary of Olgierd J. Weiss, Jr.

Canton—

Olgierd J. “Augie” Weiss, Jr, 81, of Chapel Street, Canton, died Monday, April 1, 2019, at Canton-Potsdam Hospital.

A Mass of Christian burial will held on Saturday, April 6 at 11:00 AM in St. Mary’s Church, Canton with Rev. Bryan Stitt as celebrant; both the Canton Fire Department and VFW will participate.  The family will receive friends on Friday, April 5 from 2-4 & 6-8 PM at Lawrence Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Canton.  Additional off-street parking is available behind “LUNA” at 18 Park Street.  Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery at a later date.

Augie was born January 6, 1938, in Albany, NY.  He was a son of the late, Olgierd J., Sr. & Mary (Martin) Weiss, graduated from Christian Brothers Academy High School and Sienna College in Loudonville NY, where he was involved in the ROTC Program and majored in Math/Physics. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. He came to Canton in the mid 1960’s as a Professor of Military Science at St. Lawrence University in the ROTC Program. Here he met his wife, Barbara.

On October 5, 1968, Major O.J. Weiss, Jr. and Miss Barbara Ann Cotter were married at St. Mary’s Church in Canton.  The couple were married over 50 years. Three weeks after marriage, Augie left for a year of service in Vietnam.  He resigned from the US Army November 1969 and was honorably discharged from his duties as Field Artillery Unit Commander. During his service he earned numerous awards including Army Commendation Medal, two Bronze Star medals, one with Combat V, and Armed Forces Honor Medal. It was his desire to settle in Canton to start a family and open an electrical construction business.

He owned and operated Weiss Electric for nearly 50 years and was a BOCES instructor teaching electrical construction.  Augie was dedicated to the Canton Community serving on the Canton School Board for a number of years, President of St. Lawrence Figure Skating Club, was involved in both boys and girls hockey programs, as well as Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.  He was an avid member of Stillwater Hunting Club, NRA, and St. Lawrence Hockey Boosters. He was an Extra Class Amateur Ham Radio Operator (K2UVU), he earned the “Top Gun Award” due to his numerous long distance radio contacts. Most notably, he was a devoted member of Canton Fire & Rescue, where he served as Chief and Assistant Chief, and was an instructor at the NY State Academy of Fire Science.  He was also a St. Lawrence County Fire and Arson Investigator, known as “Car 3”.

An addition to his wife Barbara Ann of Canton, he is survived by his children, Jennifer Weiss Donovan and husband Alexander of So. Weymouth, MA, and Lt. Col. Olgierd J. “AJ” Weiss, III and wife Jewell, stationed at Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma AZ; four grandchildren, Tighe and Bridget Donovan, Hagan and Charli Weiss; two brothers, Ronald Weiss of Clifton Park, NY and Edward Weiss of Troy, NY. He was predeceased by a daughter, Bridget Ann in 1974. 

Augie was most proud of being a father and a “Papa”.  In recent years, he was widely known for joyously sharing stories of his children following in his footsteps, Jenn as a licensed Architect and licensed Construction Supervisor, and AJ carrying on the military tradition as a decorated USMC F/A-18 fighter pilot, now Executive Officer of MCAS Yuma. 

Memorial contributions are suggested to St. Lawrence Co. Fire Training Facility, Inc., c/o 77 Riverside Dr., Canton, NY 13617 or to a Disabled Veteran’s Charity of Choice. 

Condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.lawrencefuneralhome.org