Update: Bill Clinton and Rev. Jesse Jackson to attend Weiner funeral Tuesday at Temple Beth-El in Providence at 11 a.m.
Mark Weiner of East Greenwich, a confidante of Hillary and Bill Clinton, former Rhode Island state Democratic chairman, and top fund raiser for the Democratic Party, both nationally and in the Ocean State, has died after a battle with cancer. He was 62.
Bill Clinton mentioned Weiner Tuesday night during the former president’s speech at the Democratic National Convention, saying that he and Hillary, the Democratic nominee for president, both cried when they heard the news Tuesday from another Weiner friend, former Providence Mayor Joe Paolino.
At just 22-years-old, Weiner worked alongside Hillary Clinton in Jimmy Carter’s presidential campaign. Some 40 years later, Weiner would host Clinton at a fundraiser at his East Greenwich home, as she began her own current bid for the presidency.
Weiner gained a national reputation as a powerhouse at raising money, but he never sought the political limelight says former Rhode Island Democratic Party Chair Bill Lynch.
“Mark was one of those guys that never really wanted to be in the forefront, but he was always willing to do the work behind the scenes, from organizing events, raising money, traveling,” said Lynch.
Weiner’s company Financial Innovations, merged his business with his love of politics. The Cranston-based company produced campaign merchandise like mugs and t-shirts, hawked at political events. Hillary For America spent more than $1 million on products from the company in the last year. Financial Innovations’ long list of clients has included numerous organized labor, Democratic Party and left-leaning organizations.
Bill Lynch says Weiner kept Rhode Island on the political map, with his close connections.
“Mark was on a first name basis, both ways, with every major Democratic political office holder for the last thirty years,” said Lynch.
A burly man, Weiner was a gourmand who loved a sumptuous repast. He was a fixture at the Aurora Civic Association in Providence, where he often hosted friends and even the occasional journalist, for lunch.
Paolino says Weiner formed a close friendship with both Bill and Hillary Clinton.
“In fact, President Clinton came to – Mark was living in Newport during the past month – and President Clinton came three weeks ago to spend an entire Sunday with Mark,” said Paolino.
When Paolino was mayor in the 1980s, he appointed Weiner as chairman of the Providence Zoning Board.
Tad Devine, another longtime national Democratic political consultant, knew Weiner as a friendly and generous man, always there to raise money for charities and political candidates he favored.
At La Salle Academy, the Providence Roman Catholic school where Weiner was one of a very few Jewish students, he was manager of the basketball team on which Devine played.
“The Ween (a Weiner nickname) never really changed since high school. He always had a lot of friends. He was a good friend and a generous guy,” said Devine.
Weiner was also close to James Carville, Bill Clinton’s political guru. Carville came to Rhode Island several years ago to headline a fundraiser for Amos House, a favorite charity of Weiner and his wife Susan.
When Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans a decade ago, Weiner hosted a lunch fundraiser featuring Carville and author John Barry, a Providence native, at the Aurora, raising about $75,00 for hurricane relief.
An avid sports fan, Weiner was known for his ability to get tickets for friends and allies to such events as NCAA basketball and the Boston Red Sox. He was also close with civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson.
Weiner is survived by his wife Susan and four children.
His funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. August 2 at Temple Beth-El in Providence. Bill Clinton is scheduled to attend and speak.
