Maurice “Reese” Weingart, 92, a decorated war veteran and past president of both B’nai El Congregation and the New Mount Sinai Cemetery Association, died Tuesday, April 7. He was 92 and a longtime resident of the St. Louis area. Admired for his quiet demeanor and effective leadership, Mr. Weingart was also extensively involved in civic and political activities.

Mr. Weingart was born in St. Louis on Aug. 14, 1922, the son of Joseph and Anna Greenfield Weingart. He was a graduate of Ben Blewett High School in 1940 and later attended Midland Institute of Commerce.

Weingart was drafted in December 1942 and spent more than three years in the Army, serving in the Mechanized Cavalry, ASTP Program, Signal Corp and Infantry. He saw combat in Europe with the 65th Infantry Division and received the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star and other medals. On April 7, 1945, he was taken prisoner at Dorna, Germany, and later liberated by units of the 261st Infantry.

In 1946, he joined his father in the Joseph Weingart Insurance Agency and was active with the firm for almost 50 years. In 1959, he earned his chartered property and casualty underwriters designation and, in 1963, was elected president of the St. Louis Chapter of Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriters.

Mr. Weingart was also active in local political, civic and religious organizations. He was among the relatively few members of the Jewish community to be active on behalf of Republican candidates who were progressive “good government” leaders in their various positions. In 1962, 1966 and 1970, he was campaign manager for St. Louis County Councilman Gerald A. Rimmel’s successful bids for St. Louis County Council.

Mr. Weingart was president of the Creve Coeur Township Republican Men’s Club and from 1967 to 1974 was a member of the Republican Central Committee of Missouri. From 1963 to 1965, Mr. Weingart was a member of the Metropolitan Youth Commission of St. Louis City and County.  He served on the board of trustees of the St. Louis County Retirement Board from 1967 to 1978. In 1972, he was named honorary commissioner for the state American Revolutionary Bicentennial Committee. During 1976-77, he chaired the Creve Coeur Personnel Committee.

In the 1970s, Mr. Weingart was a member of the Missouri/Southern Illinois Regional Advisory Board of the Anti-Defamation League. Starting in 1950, Mr. Weingart chaired or served on almost every committee of B’nai El Congregation, including as president from 1962 to 1965. He chaired building and fundraising committees for B’nai El’s building on North Outer 40 Road in Frontenac. 

He served as a religious-school teacher at B’nai El for 20 years and also directed the religious school for a time. From 1967-68, he was president of the Federation of Reform Temples. He also was a member of the Professional Educators Council of the Central Agency for Jewish Education and a member of the CAJE board of directors during the 1960s. When B’nai El entered into a collaborative with Congregation Shaare Emeth, Mr. Weingart became a Shaare Emeth member.

Mr. Weingart was respected for his leadership on the New Mount Sinai Cemetery Association board. He served on its board during the 1970s and was president from 2005 to 2009. He was then named a life member of the board in recognition of his many years of service. A proclamation honoring Mr. Weingart will be read at the cemetery board’s next meeting, and a contribution to the cemetery’s Beautification Fund will be made in his honor.

He was also a member of the 65th Infantry Division Association, the 94th Infantry Division Association, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Jewish War Veterans USA Department of Missouri.

Mr. Weingart is survived by his wife, the former Ruth Blumoff. His first wife was the late Freida Dubman Weingart. He is also survived by his children Sandy (Bruce) Robbins, Sherry (Lenny) Simpson, Marty (Pamela) Greenberg, Anita (Howard) Tischler, Maxine Hirsch, and Barbara (Bill) Greenblatt; 15 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services for Mr. Weingart were held April 9 in the New Mount Sinai Mausoleum, where Rabbi Ari Kaiman of B’nai Amoona Congregation officiated.

Contributions in Mr. Weingart’s memory may be made to the B’nai El Endowment Fund, 910 Shandel Drive, St. Louis, Mo. 63132 or to the charity of the donor’s choice.