Former PG Editor Steve Weinstein Dies

Stephen Weinstein, a former editor of Progressive Grocer and an advocate for ending worldwide hunger, died Aug. 3 in Princeton, N.J. He was 86.

A veteran trade reporter who graduated from the University of Missouri School of Journalism, Weinstein, known as Steve, began his career in writing at an army desk job in Germany during the Korean War. Although he wanted to work as a foreign correspondent for The New York Times following his service, he instead found a home in business journalism, working at several Fairchild Publications titles, including Supermarket News, Footwear News and Women’s Wear Daily, and later at PG. Through the relationships he developed with food corporation executives, he helped establish the Food Industry Crusade Against Hunger (FICAH), a nongovernmental organization focused on fostering self-help, sustainable solutions for ending hunger around the world. Weinstein traveled the world with his family to check on sponsored projects.

In addition to being a well-respected journalist, Weinstein wrote poetry in his spare time, penning personal poems for friends and family on special occasions, including ones annually for his wife on her birthday and their anniversary, for 65 years. More recently, he published a book about his and his wife’s many travel experiences, titled “She Made Me Do It.”

Despite suffering from a rare autoimmune disorder for the past 20 years, Weinstein continued to travel, read, play golf, indulge his love of opera, and enjoy the pleasures of the North Fork of Long Island and New York City.

Weinstein is survived by his wife, Marcia; his children, Julie, Joel and Kim; and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. The family has chosen not to have a funeral; a memorial service will be scheduled within a few months. Donations in his name may be sent to the Southern Poverty Law Center or Heifer Foundation.