Richard Meese (’76 MA L&S, ’78 PhD L&S)

A Very Special Place Receives A Special Gift

The Memorial Union is well named. For 75 years it has been the source and the guardian of memories. Doris Weisberg (’58 BS L&S) collected an abundance of Union memories during her years as a student. “While I was at the UW, I was very active at the Union and served as president of the Union Directorate my senior year,” she said. “I learned a lot during my early affiliation with the Union. Foremost, I learned how to lead a group and the value of community service. The Union was, and still is, a very special place.”

Doris and her husband, Robert, are helping to make sure future students, staff, faculty and visitors have an opportunity to make their own memories at the Union and to shape their personal philosophies by taking part in stimulating and meaningful contemporary political discussion. The Weisbergs have included the Memorial Union in their estate plans by establishing the Doris and Robert Weisberg Current Issues Symposium Fund. The fund will allow the Union to bring in speakers to present timely subjects to benefit teaching, research and public service at the UW-Madison.

“Bob and I both gave a great deal of thought to our estate plans. Wisconsin has always been politically aware and establishing this fund is a good way for us to put our money where our passion is,” Doris explained.

Doris’ political passions formed early in life. She was born and raised in Racine, Wisconsin. One day in the early 1950s, Doris was visiting the office of her father, Samuel Feldman. U.S. Sen. Joseph McCarthy, who was campaigning for re-election, came to the door, introduced himself and asked to speak to Mr. Feldman. Doris told him he was not welcome and turned him away. Doris’ awareness of the political process and the power of a single voice had taken root.

Robert Weisberg is a native of Brooklyn, New York, and a graduate of Brooklyn College. He did his graduate work at Columbia College. Robert and Doris met in Amagansett, New York where he had a summer home and they were married in 1969.

A pioneer in the field of cable television, Robert is one of the co-founders of HBO and helped to develope the Bravo and American Movie Classics networks. He shares with Doris an interest in national and world affairs and open political dialogue. Currently, he volunteers for the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in American, a media-watch organization that analyzes newspaper, television and radio news reports to determine the accuracy of Middle East reporting.

The couple’s combined belief in political activism inspired them to include in their estate plans a bequest that will establish the Doris Feldman Weisberg and Robert Weisberg Chair in Liberal, Political Thought. The chair will support and honor a distinguished faculty member in the department of political science in the College of Letters and Science.

Doris earned her PhD from Columbia University. Since retiring from the faculty of City College in New York City after a 26-year career teaching speech pathology and audiology, she has explored a variety of interests. She was a part of the team that launched the Television Food Network where she produced shows and was managing editor of food news. She also has produced cooking shows for Lifetime Television.

Today, like many semi-retired couples, Doris and Robert spend much of their time traveling and are especially interested in exploring Asia. Doris is active in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut-based Tri-State Women’s Initiative. “The group reconnects alumni and former students with the UW and invites professors from the University to speak on current research, programs and critical issues.”

It was Doris’ father who first persuaded her to attend the UW, but her own memories brought her back. “I had no contact with the University for about 30 years,” she recalled. “Then, about six years ago, we visited Madison. Bob fell in love with the city and I fell in love all over again. I’ve been associated with many colleges--each one is unique and different--but my favorite is Wisconsin.”