Obituary: Ellen Weisenberg, Wife of Former Assemblyman, Dies at 81

Ellen Weisenberg, wife of a former assemblyman and advocate for those with special needs, passed away on Monday, April 18. She was 81.

Ellen and her husband of 50 years, Harvey Weisenberg, who was elected to the State Assembly from 1989 to 2014 after serving as both a member and President of the Long Beach City Council, were both long time residents of Long Beach.

"Harvey likes to say that Ellen is a gift from God," their website reads. "Harvey and Ellen’s love for one another blossomed and spread throughout their beloved families, and to others through Ellen’s work as a nurse and Harvey’s service, first as a police officer, recreation supervisor, teacher, school administrator and then for 38 years as an elected official and public servant."

Last year, the couple started a non-profit organization, the Harvey and Ellen Weisenberg Special Needs Resource Corp., in order to provide online resources, including a free smartphone app, for the families and caregivers of those with special needs.

Their son, Ricky, who is developmentally disabled, inspired the Weisenbergs to start the non-profit.

The app they created provides information about the rights of citizens with special needs as well as about educational programs in addition to information about agencies, organizations and other resources that serve people with special needs, according to their website.

In addition to their son and husband, Ellen is survived by four other children and six grandchildren.

A service will be held at Gutterman's on 175 N. Long Beach Road in Rockville Centre, on Wednesday, April 20 at 2 p.m.

Shiva will be held at the home of Howard and Brenda Siegal, sister of Harvey Weisenberg at 199 Washington Avenue, Harbor Isle on April 20, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and April 21, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made towww.harveyandellenweisenberg.com.

Photo: Facebook.com