Dr Julius Weil (1902 - 1989)

Julius Weil was born in Steinsfurt on October 6, 1902 as son of the trader Gustav Weil (1864 - 1921) and his wife Mathilda née Menges (1870 - 1947) 𝅘𝅥𝅮. The couple had six children, Regina (*1893), Johanna (*1895), Siegfried (*1900), Julius, Gertrud (*1907) and Max (*1911) 𝅘𝅥𝅮. The two eldest daughters are remembered on the Weil-Plaque in the synagogue.

After attending the primary school in Steinsfurt he went to the Realschule Sinsheim in 1913 - 1917. When he left with the usual certificate „Zeugnis über die bestandene Schlußprüfung” his occupational goal was noted as „dental technologist” 𝅘𝅥𝅮. But in fact he chose a completely different career as is seen from the following article in The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History:

WEIL, JULIUS (...) spent forty-five years of his life in working with senior citizens in Greater Cleveland. His contributions earned him national and international recognition. (...) Julius was educated in Germany, eventually earning his Ph.D in clinical psychology from the University of Munich. On 20 Nov. 1924, he married Helen Kahn (see WEIL, HELEN KAHN†), and the couple had two daughters, Naomi and Grace. Forced to flee the Nazis, the Weils left their native land in 1937, making their way to Cleveland in 1941.

Weil came to Cleveland at the invitation of the MONTEFIORE HOME for senior citizens in CLEVELAND HEIGHTS. Under his leadership, the home grew in capacity from 60 to 200 residents. He also instituted a program of occupational therapy there, and through a sheltered workshop gave residents the opportunity of earning some income and augmenting their sense of independence.

He was close friend of another emigrant, Cornelia Schnurmann, and when she died, her will directed him to undertake another chapter in serving the elderly. Leaving Montefiore Home at the end of 1968, Weil established the Cornelia Schnurmann Foundation, and through it built Schnurmann House in MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, a residential compound serving 198 golden-agers. It is located on Julius Weil Drive. He led the home from 1969 to 1985 when he retired.

Besides his leadership of the Cleveland homes for the aged, Weil wrote for the Geriatrics and Jewish Social Service Quarterly journals, and he went around the country giving talks on the needs of seniors. Weil is buried in Mt. Olive Cemetery in Solon, OH.

Julius Weil's daughter Naomi Feil (1932 - 2023) developed  „Validation” as a method to better communicate with elderly people with cognitive decline.