{{Short description|American menswear designer (1923–2002)}} {{Infobox person | name = John Weitz | image = Hans_Werner_"John"_Weitz.jpg | image_size = | alt = Screencap of Weitz during a 1992 interview with Charlie Rose | caption = Weitz during a 1992 interview with Charlie Rose | birth_name = Hans Werner Weitz | birth_date = {{birth date|1923|05|25}} | birth_place = Berlin, Germany | death_date = {{death date and age|2002|10|03|1923|05|25}} | death_place = Bridgehampton, New York, U.S. | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LONG|type:landmark|display=inline}} --> | education = | alma_mater = | occupation = Menswear designer<br/>Novelist and Historian | years_active = | known_for = | notable_works = | spouse = {{plainlist| * {{marriage|Sally Blauner Gould|1944|1953|reason=divorce}} * {{marriage|Eve Orton|1953|1964|reason=divorce}} * {{marriage|Susan Kohner|1964}} }} | children = 4, including Paul Weitz & Chris Weitz | parents = | relatives =Lupita Tovar (mother-in-law)<br/>Paul Kohner (father-in-law) |module = {{Infobox military person |embed = yes |embed_title = Military Service |allegiance = {{Flag|United States of America}} |branch = |unit = 25px Office of Strategic Services |battles = World War II }}}}
'''Hans Werner "John" Weitz''' (May 25, 1923 – October 3, 2002) was an American menswear designer<ref name=NYTimes-ManintheSun-1960>{{cite news|last1=Morris|first1=Bernadine|title=Weitz's Casual Men's Fashions|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1980/11/26/111315286.pdf|accessdate=25 September 2015|work=The New York Times|date=26 November 1980}}</ref> who initiated licensing products and selling affordable but stylish clothing that featured his image in the advertising. He had a second career as a writer and historian.<ref name=NYTimes-JohnWeitz-Obit-2002>{{cite news|last1=Kelley|first1=Tina|title=John Weitz, 79, Fashion Designer Turned Historian, Dies|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/04/nyregion/john-weitz-79-fashion-designer-turned-historian-dies.html|accessdate=21 August 2015|work=The New York Times|date=4 October 2002}}</ref> Weitz was also well known for being the husband of actress Susan Kohner and father of directors Paul Weitz and Chris Weitz.<ref name=NYTimes-GrowingUpWeitz-2000>{{cite news|last1=Horyn|first1=Cathy|title=Legacy; Growing up Weitz|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/20/magazine/legacy-growing-up-weitz.html|accessdate=21 August 2015|work=The New York Times|date=20 February 2000}}</ref>
== Early life == Weitz was born in Berlin, Germany, to father, Robert Salomon "Bobby" Weitz, a successful textile manufacturer, and mother, Hedwig "Hedy" Weitz (née Jacob).<ref name=FamilySearch-USWWIIReg-Bobby-1942>{{cite web|title=Salomon Weitz - United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942|url=https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F3C3-JNB|website=FamilySearch|accessdate=26 August 2015}}</ref><ref name=FamilySearch-USWWIIReg-Bobby-Detail-1942>{{cite web|title=Salomon Weitz - United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 - 004126364 Image 4598|url=https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11825-151682-60?cc=1861144|website=FamilySearch|accessdate=26 August 2015}}</ref> His parents were part of an active social scene during the Weimar Republic that was glamorous and filled with young artists, writers and actors such as Christopher Isherwood and Marlene Dietrich.<ref name=Bespoken-PrimerJohnWeitz-Part1-2010>{{cite web|last1=Knoth|first1=Ronald|title=A Primer on John Weitz (Part One of Three)|url=http://www.thebespokenfor.net/ronsfashionlife/2010/01/a-primer-on-john-weitz-part-one-of-three.html|website=The Bespoken: For Gentlemen|accessdate=23 August 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225140622/http://www.thebespokenfor.net/ronsfashionlife/2010/01/a-primer-on-john-weitz-part-one-of-three.html|archivedate=25 February 2012|date=25 January 2010}}</ref> The household was Jewish in ancestry and culture, but not religious.<ref name=JewishJournal-PaulChrisWeitz-2003>{{cite news|last1=Pfefferman|first1=Naomi|title=About Two Boys: Late fashion designer John Weitz inspires his Academy Award-nominated sons, Paul and Chris.|url=http://www.jewishjournal.com/arts/article/about_two_boys_20030314/|accessdate=23 August 2015|work=Jewish Journal|date=13 March 2003|archive-date=5 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105075332/http://www.jewishjournal.com/arts/article/about_two_boys_20030314/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Paula|last=Chin |url=http://people.com/archive/john-weitz-vol-38-no-17/|title=John Weitz|work=People Magazine|date=October 26, 1992|accessdate=April 24, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Naomi|last=Pfefferman|url=http://jewishjournal.com/mobile_20111212/101733/|title=Paul Weitz on dads, De Niro and "Being Flynn"|work=Jewish Journal|date=March 5, 2012|accessdate=April 23, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Naomi|last=Pfefferman|url=http://jewishjournal.com/culture/arts/92681/|title=An Immigrant Struggles for a 'Better Life' for His Son|work=Jewish Journal|date=June 1, 2011|accessdate=April 24, 2018}}</ref>
When he was 10 years old, Weitz was sent to boarding school in England. He attended The Hall School from 1933 to 1936<ref name=UPI-ManyFacets-1983>{{cite news|last1=Pauley|first1=Gay|title=Many facets of John Weitz|url=http://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/01/04/Many-facets-of-John-Weitz/2282410504400/|accessdate=23 August 2015|work=United Press International|date=4 January 1983}}</ref> and St. Paul's School from 1936 to 1939. After graduation, he was named vice-president of the Old Pauline Club of London.<ref name=Bespoken-PrimerJohnWeitz-Part1-2010 /> Weitz eventually attended Oxford University for one year.<ref name=People-Profile-1975>{{cite news|title=John Weitz Tries Designing the Man Inside His Clothes|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20064907,00.html|accessdate=23 August 2015|work=People|date=27 January 1975}}{{dead link|date=December 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> With the recommendation of St. Paul's classmate John Cavanagh, in 1939, Weitz worked in Paris as an apprentice to fashion designer Edward Molyneux. Weitz went to Shanghai, China, in order to wait for a visa to America; while there he played on the Shanghai Rugby Football Union team for a short time.<ref name=People-Profile-1975 />
In 1938, Weitz' parents left Nazi Germany to live in Paris, then London, eventually relocating to New York City. The Weitz family immigrated to the United States via Yokohama, Japan, and Shanghai, China, where many refugee Jews stayed while trying to get to the United States, from their last permanent residence in London. They arrived in Seattle, Washington, in April 1941.<ref name=FamilySearch-Immigration-Page1-1941>{{cite web|title=Salomon Weitz - Washington, Seattle, Passenger Lists|url=https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KDZX-C36|website=FamilySearch|accessdate=26 August 2015}}</ref><ref name=FamilySearch-Immigration-Page1-Image211Details-1941>{{cite web|title=Heian Maru Manifest: Washington, Seattle, Passenger Lists, 1890-1957, Image 211|url=https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-22102-28467-26?cc=1916081|website=FamilySearch|accessdate=26 August 2015}}</ref> They were joining Hedy's brother-in-law, Hermann Gross, in New York City.<ref name=FamilySearch-Immigration-Page0-Image210Details-1941>{{cite web|title=Heian Maru Manifest: Washington, Seattle, Passenger Lists, 1890-1957, Image 210|url=https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-22102-28378-21?cc=1916081|website=FamilySearch|accessdate=26 August 2015}}</ref> Weitz became a naturalized American in 1943.<ref name=UPI-ManyFacets-1983 />
In the United States, Weitz worked for a short time at Voice of America before enlisting in the US Army in 1943.<ref name=FamilySearch-USWWIIArmyEnlistment-1943>{{cite web|title=John H W Weitz United States World War II Army Enlistment Records|url=https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8R2-YG7|website=FamilySearch|accessdate=26 August 2015}}</ref> During World War II, from 1943 to 1946, Weitz became an Office of Strategic Services ("OSS") intelligence officer, where his language skills (German, French) were important assets.<ref name=People-OSS-1982>{{cite news|last1=Carlson|first1=Peter|title=Secret Agents|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20082335,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914184259/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20082335,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 14, 2015|accessdate=23 August 2015|work=People|date=7 June 1982}}</ref> His training at Camp Ritchie, Maryland classifies him as one of the Ritchie Boys. A group of approximately 20,000 G-2 soldiers who used their linguistics to interrogate POW's in Europe. During this time he was part of a 1944 mission in support of the plan to assassinate Adolf Hitler formulated by German Wehrmacht officers, under the instigation of Claus von Stauffenberg. After the war, Weitz helped to liberate the Dachau concentration camp.<ref name="JewishJournal-PaulChrisWeitz-2003"/>
== Career ==
=== Fashion === In 1945, after three years in the Army, Weitz went to work for his father at The Weitz Corporation. He worked in the women's lingerie department.<ref name=USTaxCourt-Blauner-1967>{{cite web|title=Irving Blauner and Frances Blauner v. Commissioner|url=http://www.leagle.com/decision/196775226fatcm726_1596/BLAUNER%20v.%20COMMISSIONER|website=United States Tax Court|accessdate=23 August 2015|date=31 July 1967}}</ref>
In 1947, with the help of his wife's parents, who owned Blauner's department stores, Weitz started the company John Weitz Juniors, Inc., in New York City, where he manufactured dresses and women's sportswear. The company was in business until 1953.<ref name=USTaxCourt-Blauner-1967 /> In 1954, Weitz founded John Weitz Designs Inc.<ref name=NYTimes-DesignerPleasesSelf-1965>{{cite news|last1=Sloane|first1=Leonard|title=Designer Decries Men's Styles|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1965/11/02/94999759.pdf|accessdate=25 September 2015|work=The New York Times|date=2 November 1965}}</ref> During this period Weitz found an early mentor in Dorothy Shaver of Lord & Taylor.<ref name=Bespoken-PrimerJohnWeitz-Part1-2010 />
In 1964, Weitz shifted from womenswear to menswear, where he focused on classic styles and the practical use and durability of clothing.<ref name=FashionEncyclopedia-JohnWeitz>{{cite web|title=Weitz, John. American fashion and industrial designer|url=http://www.fashionencyclopedia.com/Vi-Z/Weitz-John.html|website=Fashion Encyclopedia|accessdate=23 August 2015}}</ref>
As a popular menswear designer, Weitz was an early adopter in the late 1960s of licensing his name brand; he also used his own image in advertising his brand.<ref name=Bespoken-PrimerJohnWeitz-Part2-2010>{{cite web|last1=Knoth|first1=Ronald|title=A Primer on John Weitz (Part Two of Three)|url=http://www.thebespokenfor.net/ronsfashionlife/2010/01/a-primer-on-john-weitz-part-two-of-three-.html|website=The Bespoken: For Gentlemen|accessdate=23 August 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225141119/http://www.thebespokenfor.net/ronsfashionlife/2010/01/a-primer-on-john-weitz-part-two-of-three-.html|archivedate=25 February 2012|date=27 January 2010}}</ref><ref name=People-JohnWeitz-Obit-2002>{{cite news|last1=Wohlfert|first1=Lee|title=It Takes a Strong Woman to Tell John Weitz He's All Wet, and Her Name Is Susan Kohner|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20074482,00.html|volume=12|number=10|accessdate=21 August 2015|work=People|date=3 September 1979}}</ref> His company was called John Weitz Designs, Inc.<ref name=People-Profile-1975 /> He carried a wide, diverse line of goods and was often featured in advertising that portrayed a glamorous lifestyle. One of Weitz' successful and well-known menswear items that were popular was socks.<ref name=Bespoken-PrimerJohnWeitz-Part1-2010 /> John Fairchild, editor of ''Women's Wear Daily'', said that Weitz became a household name by successfully licensing and advertising his name on products, .<ref name=Bespoken-PrimerJohnWeitz-Part2-2010 />
=== Writer === From 1970 to the 1990s, Weitz wrote both fiction and historical non-fiction, much centered on Nazi-era Germany. He also wrote frequent magazine articles on a variety of subjects, including his hobby as a race car driver.<ref name=NewSchool-Papers-1998>{{cite web|title=John Weitz papers, 1945-1998|url=http://library.newschool.edu/speccoll/findingaids/KA0047.html|accessdate=21 August 2015|work=New School Libraries & Archives|date=1998}}</ref> Weitz raced at Sebring International Raceway from 1955 to 1957,<ref name=People-Profile-1975 /> as well as the Bahamas Grand Prix Circuit.<ref name=Bespoken-PrimerJohnWeitz-Part1-2010 />
While spending time on Long Island, Weitz was encouraged by the writer John Steinbeck to write. His early novels were bestsellers.<ref name=Bespoken-PrimerJohnWeitz-Part3-2010>{{cite web|last1=Knoth|first1=Ronald|title=A Primer on John Weitz (Part Three of Three)|url=http://www.thebespokenfor.net/ronsfashionlife/2010/01/a-primer-on-john-weitz-part-three-of-three-.html|website=The Bespoken: For Gentlemen|accessdate=23 August 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225141114/http://www.thebespokenfor.net/ronsfashionlife/2010/01/a-primer-on-john-weitz-part-three-of-three-.html|archivedate=25 February 2012|date=29 January 2010}}</ref> While his early novels were semi-autobiographical, including focuses on style, the fashion business, and his experiences in Germany, his latter non-fiction books were serious biographies of Joachim von Ribbentrop,<ref name=NYTimes-Diplomat-Ribbentrop-1992>{{cite news|last1=Brozan|first1=Nadine|title=Chronicle|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/21/style/chronicle-022292.html|accessdate=23 August 2015|work=The New York Times|date=21 July 1992}}</ref> Foreign Minister of Third Reich, and Hjalmar Schacht,<ref name=NYTimes-Banker-Schacht-1998>{{cite news|last1=Murray|first1=David|title=Books in Brief: Nonfiction - Hitler's Banker|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/01/25/books/books-in-brief-nonfiction-112151.html|accessdate=23 August 2015|work=The New York Times|date=25 January 1998}}</ref> President of the Reichsbank and Minister of Economics.<ref name=Bespoken-PrimerJohnWeitz-Part3-2010 />
== Personal life == Weitz was married three times. His first marriage, from 1944 to 1953, was to Sally Blauner Gould.<ref name=NYTimes-SallyBlaunerGould-Obit-2006>{{cite news|title=Paid Notice: Deaths - Gould, Sally Blauner|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE5DA163AF930A2575BC0A9609C8B63|accessdate=23 August 2015|work=The New York Times|date=13 August 2006}}</ref> He had married Blauner when he was 20 years old. Blauner was from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and her family owned the Blauner's department store chain.<ref name=USTaxCourt-Blauner-1967 /> He had a daughter and son with Gould, Karen Weitz Curtis and Robert Weitz. In 1964, Weitz separated from his second wife, Eve Orton, who was a fashion editor.<ref name=NYTimes-EveOrton-Obit-1988>{{cite news|title=Eve Orton, Editor, 72|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/10/obituaries/eve-orton-editor-72.html|accessdate=23 August 2015|work=The New York Times|date=10 June 1988}}</ref>
In 1964, Weitz met actress Susan Kohner in Palm Beach, Florida. Kohner's father was a well known talent agent named Paul Kohner; her mother was actress Lupita Tovar.<ref name=JewishJournal-PaulChrisWeitz-2003 /> Weitz married Kohner in 1964.<ref name=FamilySearch-CAMarriageIndex-1964>{{cite web|title=John H Weitz mentioned in the record of John H Weitz and Susan Kohner|url=https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V62Y-4MQ|website=FamilySearch|accessdate=26 August 2015}}</ref> They had two sons, directors Paul Weitz and Chris Weitz.<ref name=NYTimes-GrowingUpWeitz-2000 />
In addition to his race car driving hobby, Weitz enjoyed boating, and was a member of yacht clubs in Palm Beach, East Hampton, Sag Harbor, as well as part of the US Naval Academy Sailing Squadron.<ref name=Bespoken-PrimerJohnWeitz-Part2-2010 />
== Awards == * 1959: ''Sports Illustrated'' award<ref name=Sports-Illustrated-DesignerofYear-1959>{{cite magazine|last1=Zill|first1=Jo Ahern|title=Announcing this year's fashion winners|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1959/04/20/603139/announcing-this-years-fashion-winners|accessdate=25 August 2015|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=20 April 1959}}</ref> * 1960: NBC ''Today Show'' award * 1964-1967: Caswell-Massey Awards<ref name=NYTimes-DesignerPleasesSelf-1965 /> * 1966: ''Harper's Bazaar'' Medallion * 1967: Moscow Diploma * 1974: Coty American Fashion Critics' Award * 1975: Brilliant Pen Award (MFI) * 1981: Cartier Award for Design Excellence * 1986: Cutty Sark Menswear Award * 1986: Mayor's Liberty Award * 1988: Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany * 1990: Ellis Island Medal of Honor * 1990: Dallas Menswear Mart award * 1990: Fashion Institute of Technology President's award * 1992: Ellis Island Medal of Honor
== Works and publications == * Weitz, John. ''Sports Clothes for Your Sports Car.'' New York: Sports Car Press; distributed by Crown Publishers, 1958. {{OCLC|1498186}} * Weitz, John. ''The Value of Nothing: A Novel.'' New York: Stein and Day, 1970. {{ISBN|978-0-812-81275-6}} {{OCLC|15585961}} * Weitz, John. ''Man in Charge; The Executive's Guide to Grooming, Manners, and Travel.'' New York: Macmillan, 1974. {{ISBN|978-0-026-25770-1}} {{OCLC|948103}} * Weitz, John. ''Friends in High Places.'' New York: Macmillan, 1982. {{ISBN|978-0-026-25920-0}} {{OCLC|8494471}} * Weitz, John. "[https://www.nytimes.com/1988/03/27/magazine/auto-motives.html Auto Motives.]" ''The New York Times''. March 27, 1988. * Weitz, John. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=f_JnAAAAMAAJ Hitler's Diplomat The Life and Times of Joachim Von Ribbentrop.]'' New York: Ticknor & Fields, 1992. {{ISBN|978-0-395-62152-3}} {{OCLC|644173200}} * Weitz, John. "[https://www.nytimes.com/1994/02/01/opinion/l-nazis-still-lead-reichstag-fire-suspects-045934.html Nazis Still Lead Reichstag Fire Suspects.]" ''The New York Times,'' Opinion. February 1, 1994. * Weitz, John. ''Hitler's Banker: Hjalmar Horace Greeley Schacht.'' London: Warner, 1999. {{ISBN|978-0-751-52666-0}} {{OCLC|422429570}}
== References == {{Reflist|30em}}
== Further reading == * Bender, Marilyn. ''The Beautiful People.'' New York: Dell, 1968. {{OCLC|760137105}} * Weitz, John. ''Making Connections. Part 9.'' Aspen, Colo: International Design Conference, 1978. Audio cassette. {{OCLC|8879899}} * Weitz, John, and Dorothy Hannenberg. ''Guest Lecturer, John Weitz.'' CL 111 lecture series, v.33. New York: Fashion Institute of Technology, 1979. John Weitz lectures and presents his fashions as part of the CL 111 course; Recorded at the Fashion Institute of Technology amphitheatre February 12, 1979. Video. {{OCLC|81085657}} * Weitz, John, and Mildred Finger. ''John Weitz, Menswear Designer.'' Oral history project of the fashion industries, v. 73. New York: Fashion Institute of Technology, 1983. Interviewed on October 5 and 6, 1983. Transcript. {{OCLC|80629285}} * Weitz, John with Morley Safer. ''John Weitz Remembers Life As a Jew in Nazi Germany, Coming to the US, Working with the OSS During World War II, and Comments on the German Character.'' 1989. Broadcast on ''CBS-TV (Sunday Morning),'' August 27, 1989. Reel-to-reel tape. {{OCLC|22736851}} * Koelbl, Herlinde. ''Jüdische Portraits: Photographien und Interviews.'' Frankfurt am Main: Fischer Taschenbuch Verlag, 1998. {{ISBN|978-3-596-13936-1}} {{OCLC|234196521}} * Rose, Charlie, Andres Duany, Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, John Weitz, David Campbell, Francesco Scavullo, and M. B. Piotrovskiĭ. ''Charlie Rose.'' Show #2046. New York: Rose Communications, 1997. Airdate: December 5, 1997. Video. {{OCLC|84695521}}
== External links == * ''[http://library.newschool.edu/speccoll/findingaids/KA0047.html John Weitz papers, 1945-1998]'' at New School Libraries & Archives
{{Authority control}} {{American sportswear}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Weitz, John}} Category:Clothing brands Category:Jewish fashion designers Category:20th-century American historians Category:People educated at St Paul's School, London Category:Jewish emigrants from Nazi Germany to the United States Category:Emigrants from Nazi Germany to the United States Category:Jews and Judaism in Shanghai Category:1923 births Category:2002 deaths Category:American fashion designers Category:Menswear designers Category:Recipients of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Category:Kohner family Category:Ritchie Boys