Weissers Celebrate Double Anniversary

SAN BERNARDINO >> Ellen Weisser was in tears. Surrounded by family and friends, Ellen and her husband, Stan Weisser, both longtime Redlands residents, sat in the middle of a sold-out audience in Cal State San Bernardino’s Barnes Theatre as CSUSB President Tomás Morales took the stage. “All of you know that CSUSB is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year,” said Morales. “But that’s not the only golden anniversary in the house. Two of our favorite people – Stan and Ellen Weisser – are also celebrating this seminal year in their lives together.” Calling the Weissers “shining stars” and praising their “spirit of philanthropy and passion for education that has touched countless lives,” Morales announced the establishment of the Ellen Weisser Endowed Theatre Showcase. The endowment, which will provide support for a CSUSB theatre production each year, was Stan’s surprise gift to Ellen honoring two important anniversaries: their 50th wedding anniversary and CSUSB’s 50th anniversary. Both Ellen and Stan wiped away tears as the cast of the CSUSB Theatre production “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” performed a song-and-dance salute to the couple. A banner with Ellen’s portrait was revealed following a standing ovation. Not bad for a girl from Flushing, N.Y. Then Ellen Gaynor, she moved to San Bernardino with her family as a child. Along with her friend Kathy Garver, who starred in the television show “Family Affair” from 1966-1971, Ellen attended UCLA for two years before returning home to San Bernardino to care for her ill mother. Introduced by a mutual friend to Stan, a young graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy working as a pharmacist in San Bernardino, Ellen knew almost immediately that she’d met her match. “Marrying Stan was a no brainer,” said Ellen at the gala dinner following the announcement of the endowment. The couple married on March 12, 1966, four months after their first date. Soon after, Ellen enrolled in the newly opened Cal State San Bernardino to complete her degree. An English major, she was involved in the theatre department as well, appearing as Desdemona in Shakespeare’s “Othello” in 1967. Following her graduation in 1968, she continued to support the CSUSB theatre department, serving on the committee that named the department’s main stage for Ronald E. Barnes, the first chair of the department and a close friend, in 2004. She was named a CSUSB Outstanding Alumna in 2003, and chaired the College of Arts and Letters Community Leaders Board from 2004-2015. Ellen is the current chairperson of the CSUSB Philanthropic Foundation Board of Directors. Joining the Weissers for the announcement of the endowment were their youngest son, Peter, a CSUSB student pursuing a master’s degree in history, and Ellen’s brother, Don Gaynor, who traveled from Montana for the event. Other wedding party members present included Kathy Garver, Fred Maline, Gene Bianchi and Rabbi Hillel Cohn, who officiated at the Weissers wedding. Guests were photographed next to a life-sized cutout of the Weissers on their wedding day. As the couple took to the floor to dance, a recording of Stan singing “Anniversary Song” played, a final, emotional surprise for Ellen. Gifts honoring the Weissers’ 50th wedding anniversary may be made to the CSUSB Philanthropic Foundation for the Ellen Weisser Endowed Theatre Showcase Fund. For more information, call Alicia Corral at (909) 537-3729.