Mary Weiss

Birth Name: Mary Louise Weiss

Date of Birth: December 28, 1948

Place of Birth: New York City, New York, U.S.

Date of Death: January 19, 2024

Place of Death: Palm Springs, California, U.S.

Ethnicity: German

Mary Weiss was an American singer. She was the lead singer of girl group The Shangri-Las, known for their 1964 song “Leader of the Pack.” Other members of the band were her sister Elizabeth “Betty” Weiss, and twin sisters Marguerite “Marge” Ganser and Mary Ann Ganser.

Mary was the daughter of Elizabeth and Harry Weiss. She was married to Edward Ryan, until her death.

While The Shangri-Las have been accidentally retconned as an “all-Jewish girl group” in some erroneous press reports, this is not accurate. None of the members were Jewish.

Mary’s paternal grandfather likely was named George Weiss. George was born in New York.

Mary’s paternal grandmother likely was Emma Feller (the daughter of George Feller and Elizabeth Westrick/Westarik). Emma was born in New York, to German parents. She was Catholic.

Mary’s maternal grandfather was George Fredrick “Fred” Treubig (the son of Francis C. Treubig and Creszentia Riegel). George was born in New York, to German parents. Francis was born in Zimmerau, Rinchnach, Regen, Bavaria, the son of George Joseph Treubig and Catharina Stephan.

Mary’s maternal grandmother was Anna Maria Matheis (the daughter of Jacob Matheis and Anna Maria Buchheit). Mary’s grandmother Anna was born in New York, to German parents. Jacob was born in Maßweiler, Zweibrücken, Pfalz, Bavaria, the son of Johann Heinrich Matheis and Margaretham Mutter. Mary’s great-grandmother Anna was the daughter of Jacob Bucheit and Elisabetha Schaefer.

Sources: Birth record of likely Mary’s father – https://www.familysearch.org

Death record of likely Mary’s paternal grandmother, Emma (Feller) Weiss – https://www.familysearch.org