Seena Weisman, former editor of Lynbrook News and Rockaway Journal, dies

Seena Weisman, a longtime resident of Lynbrook who was known as a talented woman who loved unconditionally, died on April 20 in the hospice care unit of the Pinecrest Rehabilitation Hospital in Delray Beach, Fla. She was 82.

Born in New York City, Weisman moved to Lynbrook more than 40 years ago. She married her late husband, Stanley, and raised her daughter, Robin Wasser, in the village. “She was the most wonderful person in the world,” Wasser said. “Very loving, giving and funny.”

Weisman was devoted to the community. She became active in B’nai B’rith, the Sisterhood of Temple Emanuel (now known as Temple Am Echad) and other organizations. She was known for her clever musical comedy parodies, which she wrote for B’nai B’rith, and she performed at Reform congregations across the country.

Weisman worked at Richner Communications, which publishes the Herald Community Newspapers, for more than two decades, editing the Lynbrook News, which predated the Lynbrook/East Rockaway Herald. “She was the consummate newspaper editor, dedicated to the people and the communities that she covered,” said Leatrice Slote Spanierman, retired executive editor at Richner. “She was our company wit. She made us laugh and eased the way when we were faced with the stress of multiple looming deadlines.”

The laughs weren’t always intentional. “I remember a bold headline on the front page of the Lynbrook News that she edited,” Spanierman recalled of Weisman, “referring to the story that a very conservative and religious incumbent mayor was re-elected. It read, ‘Mayor Sins’ when it should’ve been ‘Mayor Wins.’ Of course, Seena called him and apologized. However, the error did add levity to what could have been just another report about a Nassau politician once again maintaining his hold in office. The readership of that issue soared.”

Hannah Bennett, a former editor of the MeadowBrook Times, which is now the East Meadow Herald, shared an office with Weisman for more than 20 years. “She was smart, she was witty and had a great sense of humor,” Bennett said. “She will be sorely missed.”

In recent years, Weisman moved to Margate, N.J., and then to Delray Beach, Fla. In 2005, Stanley, who had owned the Weisman Insurance Company in Lynbrook, died. They were married for 51 years.

Weisman is survived by Wasser and her husband, Dr. Sam Wasser, and two grandchildren, Melissa and Jon. Her funeral service was held on April 24 at the Boulevard-Riverside Chapels in Hewlett, and she was interred at Mount Aravat Cemetery in Farmingdale.