Aging With Purpose
Life’s trajectory doesn’t always follow a clear path — Herbert Weiss (’79 M.A.) knows a little something about that. More than 50 years ago, the Dallas, Texas native set out to study psychology, ended up with a master’s in aging studies and went on to become a leading voice on the topic of aging through his 46-year writing career.
And just last year, Weiss’ distinguished and extensive journalism on aging and healthcare was preserved at the James P. Adams Library at Rhode Island College as the “Herbert P. Weiss Papers, 1980 to 2025.” The collection features more than 1,100 articles and three books.
After completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology and social work from the University of Texas, Weiss was met by a tough job market and an unclear path forward.
Then, his friend from high school, David Ross, rang him up to ask if he was interested in applying to the graduate program in gerontology and nursing home administration at what was then North Texas State University.
“It never occurred me to study gerontology or aging or nursing home administration. But I said, ‘Why not?’” Weiss says. “And that’s what sometimes happens in life — when another opportunity came in, I took it.”
At North Texas, Weiss learned from leading members of the gerontology and aging field, including distinguished professor Hiram Friedsam, who founded the Center for Studies in Aging at UNT — establishing the first collegiate gerontology program in Texas. Weiss also took a course from notable professor Herb Shore, who is often referred to as the “guru of nursing home administration.”
After graduating in 1979, Weiss needed an internship and was placed by the Center for Studies in Aging to the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington in Rockville, Maryland — his ticket up north.
Following that experience, Weiss wrote an article about his time at the Hebrew Home for the magazine, Contemporary Long-Term Care.
That article in 1980, titled “Thoughts of An Administrator-in-Training,” changed Weiss’ career trajectory — and he hasn’t put his pen down since.
While many of his early articles were more operational, Weiss’ focus has shifted toward government and federal policy.
“I’ve been covering the policy debates pretty closely on Social Security and Medicare and my articles have called on Congress to fix the problems in those programs once and for all,” he says. “My articles promote the need to provide good, quality programs and services to keep seniors in the community and in their homes.”
Weiss’ reporting continues to resonate at the highest levels of government. A particular highlight came about in March 2026 when, following a one-minute speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Seth Magaziner entered one of Weiss’s articles into the Congressional Record. The article examined efforts to reestablish the House Select Committee on Aging — a topic Weiss has been covering for 14 years.
“I have always wanted to make a difference,” Weiss says, framing his journalism as a form of public service.
At nearly 72, Weiss has authored or co-authored more than 1,156 articles in national, associations and trade publications. Based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Weiss has long maintained a steady local presence, writing a weekly “Age Beat” editorial on aging issues for the Blackstone Valley Call & Times, RINewsToday, a statewide blog, and the cover story for a monthly publication, Senior Digest.
Through his work, he has been recognized as an expert in aging policy and has been appointed by five governors to the Rhode Island Advisory Commission on Aging. In 2021, he was appointed by the Rhode Island Senate President to the Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s Disease Research and Treatment.
Kathleen Connell, former Rhode Island Secretary of State, says Weiss’ work takes the time to find the truth and then uses it to illuminate the aging process with timeless observations.
“Herb chronicles the journey integrating the research and the real-life happenings with wit and wisdom,” she says. “He moves beyond the surface to explore the facts as well as the depth of feelings beneath it.”
His work also bridges journalism and storytelling — Weiss is the author of three volumes in a series called “Taking Charge: Collected Stories on Aging Boldly,” which compile his published essays that blend reporting with personal reflection on caregiving, retirement and later life.
Weiss’ diverse and impactful body of work reflects a distinctive and enduring commitment to issue-focused journalism. Now, through the archival of his work in the Rhode Island College Library, the long-term impact of his writing will be available for generations to come.
Though Weiss’ path was not always clear, just like his approach to the subject of aging, he has always embraced what’s next — keeping an open mind and compassionate heart.
“You’ve got to be flexible in your career and be open to what comes to you,” Weiss says. “I think life is full of opportunities, and you’ve just got to go with the flow.”
To learn more about Weiss, visit https://herbweiss.com/. To read his latest articles, visit https://herbweiss.blog/.
Feature Photo:
On Friday, June 27, 2025, Rhode Island Lt. Governor Sabina Matos presented Herb Weiss with a citation honoring his lifelong advocacy for seniors through journalism. At the event, officials also announced the archiving of The Herbert P. Weiss Papers, 1980–2025, a collection featuring more than 1,150 articles and three books documenting a career dedicated to shedding light on issues facing older adults and their families.
Photo credit: Laura Coelho