HARRY’S GONE

‘Disabled, Gay, Jewish, Leftist, Dwarf’ Killed by Taxi

Espa6nol

By Beth Guarino

Well-known activist Harry Wieder, who described himself as a “Disabled, gay, Jewish, leftist, middle aged dwarf who ambulates with crutches,” was struck by a taxi and killed after leaving a New York City Community Board meeting on April 27. He was 57.

“How terrible that someone who worked to improve transportation for all was struck by a taxi,” read a statement from Manhattan Borough Pres. Scott Stringer.

Most of Wieder’s adult life was devoted to activism for both the disability and gay rights communities. Wieder was appointed to Community Board 3 by then-Councilmember Margarita Lopez in 1999. “He was a giant and this is a terrible loss,” said Lopez.

He belonged to the board’s committees on Human Services, Health, Disability and Seniors/ Youth and Education as well as its Transportation Committee. Wieder was a member of Disabled in Action and the 504 Democratic Club. Wieder had also been an ACT UP member.

Wieder acquired a reputation for being quite a character. He was described in the acknowledgements for Betty Adelsen’s 2005 book, “The Lives of Dwarfs: Their Journey from Public Curiosity Toward Social Liberation,” as “a ready source of information” and an “indefatigable gadfly.” Adelson profiled Wieder within the book’s chapters as well saying, “He has gained both fame and notoriety. In 1993, New York Newsday columnist Jimmy Breslin wrote a Runyonesque article about Wieder, inventing some details, but capturing his combative, roguish nature and his penchant for truth.”

Outweek Magazine, a now-defunct lesbian and gay publication in print in the late 1980s and early 1990s, called him a “militant sexual dwarf” and carried a photo of him peeking in another man’s G-string—both men laughing heartily. Underscoring his zany nature was his email user name “dwarfgod1.”

Born in Forest Hills, Wieder was a lifelong New York resident. The only child of Holocaust survivors, he was born with dwarfism. At age 13 he fell into the gap between a subway car and the platform and was rescued by his cousin

At age 17 he learned to drive a car. His legs became paralyzed in his late teens and he had spinal surgery. After heavy braces and exhausting physical therapy, he was able to ambulate with Canadian crutches. As he aged, he began to lose his hearing. At the time of his death, he lived in a building designed for people who are hard of hearing.

In a widely circulated email that Wieder sent before his death, he focused on the difficulties that the Department of Transportation had created for people with disabilities with their preponderance of signs forbidding parking. He stated that the agency needed a wake-up call as far as their mission and people with disabilities. In the same email he also revealed his feelings about the disability community when he said, “We are visible, active, mobile, productive and mostly happy.” Wieder’s well-attended funeral included many elected officials including New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, State Sen. Tom Duane (D-Dist. 29), Manhattan Borough Pres. Scott Stringer and former New York City Public Advocate, Mark Green among the more than 100 people gathered. Marvin Wasserman, a friend of Wieder’s for 25 years, eulogized him.

Obituary articles appeared in all of the city’s daily newspapers and many weekly newspapers.

Wieder is survived by his mother, Charlotte. His father, Solomon, predeceased him.

Just Wild About Harry

9 JUNE 2010-NEW YORK ABLE NEWSPAPER I’d known Harry for 25 years. I thought I was indifferent to him, but wound up going cross country with him three times, and becoming his (unpaid) travel agent. Through his example and encouragement, I became a bridge to the LGBT community.
Marvin Wasserman, Exec. Dir. Bklyn. Ctr. for the Indep. of the Disabled

Harry was everywhere fighting for the little people, both figuratively and literally. He fought against every injustice he saw. Although he was so very small in stature, he was impossible not to notice. He was fearless. Harry was a lot like the Lower East Side he loved – iconoclastic and brash. Although I think the phrase is overused, it completely fit Harry – He was one of a kind.
Rosie Mendez City Councilmember, (D-Dist. 2)

Anyone who knows Harry knows that he is a pain in the ass and they also know that he is one of those rare pains in the ass worth every effort it costs to love him and, more rightly said, to be loved by him. I am disoriented and shattered. I’m not through with Harry. The person I wanted to call to scream at about taxis and this city is Harry.
Craig Lucas Playwright, Actor, Director

Harry was a fighter who fought for the rights of disabled people. This is a true loss.
Judy Heumann

Harry was a good friend to me. He had an amazing ability to find humor in all situations, including his own. Whenever he called at my office and I was not in I would get a message that the Jolly Green Giant had called.
Lois Marbach, Political Consultant

Harry was irrepressible. Harry’s life was his own precious adventure and nothing, not his health, not his mobility and hearing problems, not anybody or anything could repress his love for people and for life itself. Harry was a Member of the Board of All Out Arts, and the Fresh Fruit Festival committee for five years. All Out Arts is a not for profit. Fresh Fruit Festival is a program of All Out Arts.Carol Polcovar, Artistic Director,Fresh Fruit Festival As one of Harry’s closest friends, I am deeply saddened by his sudden and tragic death. Harry was one of a kind - a compassionate and kind person who would do anything for a friend. A strong civil rights advocate, he was also quite a character (funny to the max).
Edith Prentiss, President 504 Democratic Club

Smart. Analytic. Relentless. Radical. Acerbic. Funny. Avid. Flirt. Outrageous. Supportive. Concerned. For 20 years, Harry was a friend and fellow combatant on health, gay rights, and disability issues. He had a “justice” meter inside his head that led him to question what others take for granted.
Susan Dooha, Exec. Dir. Ctr. for Indep. of the Disabled, NY

Some friends come into our lives and quickly go. Others stay for a while and leave footprints in our hearts that last forever.
Carolyn Jeffers CB 3

I knew Harry through his childhood friend, Diane Lipton. Turns out Diane had a disabled daughter, Chloe, and became a leading national advocate and then lawyer for kids with disabilities. So Harry and Diane’s bond was strengthened by their common cause. As so many things that Diane gave me, meeting Harry was a gift. Like Diane, Harry had gallows humor , a vital commitment and a deep soul. RIP Harry.
Arlene Mayerson, Dir. Atty. DREDF

Harry was a change agent, though not always in the way or manner you’d expect or anticipate. Sometimes, almost as if in reaction to one of Harry’s typical stubborn or cynical funks, I would find myself rising to the occasion, becoming a change agent myself almost as if to prove something to Harry. I miss Harry, the irrepressible fighter for civil and human rights, but I also miss Harry the nudge. Harry the cynic. I miss Harry the change agent.
Rockwell Chin, Dir. Office of Equal Opportunity & Diversity N.Y.S. Division of Human Rights

I met Harry about five years ago, when I started working at Cafe Angelique and he started going there for breakfast. Not only was he a customer, but one of my best friends. He picked me up from the airport a couple times after I spent the summer visiting my family in Spain. We went together shopping and I even lived with him for almost two weeks because I had no place to stay. I knew Harry very well and I loved many things about him, yet one thing I loved the most about him, was that he knew how to enjoy life by having those simple and ordinary habits like going to Cafe Angelique every morning, no matter snow or ice, to have his double maquiato with a croissant with jam. Or going to Florent while it was still open for dinner. Last time we hung out together was to have some beers at a place on Bleecker where they have 300 different kind of beers. He wanted to try one different beer every time he would go there. I think that curiosity and wild spirit to try new things, to allow himself to enjoy so much those simple things about the daily life is what I loved the most about him. I’m going to miss him a lot.
Christian Hartwig.

Harry was a person you couldn't/wouldn't forget once you met him.
Anthony Trocchia,Met Harry at DIA in the early 1990s

Harry Wieder was an example of self-determination, optimism, perseverance and activism. Throughout his life, he fought admirably and courageously to make our City more accessible. Although all New Yorkers mourn Mr. Wieder’s sudden passing, his work and legacy must and will continue.
John Liu ,NYC Comptroller

Harry and I served together as board members at the Queens Independent Living Center for many years. He was passionate about the work we did on behalf of access for people with disabilities. Harry did not hold back, everyone knew where he stood on any given issue. He was a strong force and will be missed.
Merrill Parra, Lehman College

Harry Wieder brought humor, passion, and a deep sense of commitment to everything he did. He was a tireless champion for disabilityrights, LGBT rights, better transportation, and affordable housing,and his dedication to improving the community serves as an inspiration to us all. The community has suffered a terrible loss, and we will miss him.
State Sen. Daniel Squadron (D-Dist. 25)

We all will miss Harry. I first met Harry years ago when he was still living at home. NYSD was developing an HUDsupported accessible apartment facility on Forsyth Street across from the Sarah Roosevelt Park on the lower east side. Harry was accepted as a tenant and had the opportunity to re-design his apartment for his needs. He had the only apartment with three peepholes. I asked him to mark the door on where it should be. He did note that he was looking out directly at his visitors. We also installed shelving under the counter. He shared with me that he especially liked his apartment’s visual-alert systems, especially when his friend was over who had a seizure disorder. Harry said that their entertainment was when the flashing door bell was activated. Harry joined me at several community board meetings when we were developing additional city property for accessible housing. Harry and I discussed that the best role for an advocate who was sitting in a decision-making role, was to become part of the system. I suggested to him that since he now lived in the CB 3 district he should apply to be on the board. The rest is history. None of us will forget him.
Joel Ziev, Ed.D

I was extremely saddened to learn about the tragic circumstances surrounding the death of Harry Wieder, a longtime advocate and member of Community Board 3. My thoughts go out to his family and friends. He leaves behind a huge void in the communities he served. How terrible that someone who worked to improve transportation for all was struck by a taxi. We can honor his life by continuing to fight for safer roads, and furthering his legacy of equality and access for all.
Scott Stringer, Manhattan Borough President

Harry appeared on the disability activist scene about early to mid-1980s, after taking an on-the-road-trip through every U.S. state except Hawaii. Through the years, it was Harry the playwright; Harry falling in love again and again; Harry the politically effective LGBT and disability activist. In the 1990s Harry moved to the LES, and became a community activist. He had a unique voice & style impossible to ignore or dismiss. Harry was charming, engaging, colorful, persistent, impossible, outrageous and fun. He was a little man with a big voice, huge impact and influence. A Runyonesque character, Harry has already become an unforgettable legend.
Anne Emerman, Disabled in Action

Nothing stood in Harry’s way to keep him fighting for all of the injustices he saw in the world. He was and is an inspiration to all of us. I personally will miss his daily phone calls and emails, his wonderful sense of humor, his devilishness and his friendship.
Anne Johnson, CB3, Manhattan

Harry was known for his ultra-casual attire. When I saw Harry looking spiffy in a suit and tie I said, “Wow! Harry you look so cute.” That’s the worst thing you could have said. Harry was insulted. For most of the next year Harry looked straight through me. Until one day Harry climbed on a chair and kissed my cheek. I was forgiven. On another occasion I was enjoying a delicious dinner and good conversation at a holiday party. Suddenly a pull on my right sleeve made me look ... Ho! Ho! Ho! said the shortest Santa Claus ever. Where did Harry find such a small costume? Olga Hill

It amazes me how many people call Harry a friend. He made you feel as if you had known him for years, even when you had just met. Every encounter with Harry was an event. We went to the opera together; he critiqued my hair color when I made the mistake of going blond; he visited Able’s office and hugged and kissed each employee, but I guess the thing that sticks in my mind most is the way he would gently demand that Able do a certain story about a topic he believed in. He would not only make the request, but he would explain how it should be written, who should be contacted for information and when it should be done. For this he will from now on be included in Able’s staff listing as our Beloved P.I.A. Emeritus. Angela Melledy, Publisher Able Newspaper