David H. Weis, 78, of Belmont, MA died on December 17, 2020 at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston from complications following emergency vascular surgery. He was the devoted husband of Karen F. Weis.
David was a technical market analyst, trader, writer, and educator whose career spanned nearly 50 years. He was still working full-time when he died. Born and raised in Memphis, TN, David was the son of Louis T. Weis and Rosemarie Cohen Weis and brother of the late Cecile Weis. He received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English literature from the University of Memphis (then known as Memphis State University). His initial plan was to finish a doctorate and continue a career in teaching, but a friend convinced him to consider work in the commodity futures market.
David started out in the chart room of ContiCommodities Inc. in Memphis in 1971 where he made charts by hand. His love for handmade charts continued throughout his life. He became Director of Conti’s Technical Research Department, edited its market letter, and remained with the firm until it closed. He subsequently edited the Elliott Wave Commodity Letter for Robert Prechter for a number of years and in 1987 David went into business for himself. David was introduced to the century-old work of the legendary stock trader Richard D. Wyckoff when he joined Conti. He was so drawn to the study of this work, in time David became the leading authority on the Wyckoff method of trading. In 2013 David published the book, Trades About to Happen, which shows how he adapted Wyckoff’s work to today’s markets. He also developed a trading tool, known as the Weis Wave®, to help traders implement his innovative approach. Reading the markets was David’s passion and for the last ten years he took great pleasure in freely sharing his insights with readers around the world in his nightly Stock Market Update. David mentored hundreds of students throughout his career and that was the role he treasured most. It allowed him to fulfill his love of teaching, engage with students of the market, and create lasting friendships.
David enjoyed a rich life in so many ways. He loved literature, art, music, and movies. He could often be found poring over a book of prints by Hiroshige or re-reading a favorite novel by George Eliot. He shared verses from poets like Swinburne, Hopkins, Arnold, and Ezra Pound, and could recite from memory the first 128 lines from T.S. Eliot’s poem “The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock.” David also enjoyed many simple pleasures such as fishing with a cane pole, cheering on the successes of the Celtics Big Three in the 1980s, or having fun with his two standard poodles he affectionately referred to as his “mobile military force.” David was a generous, kind, and humble man with a playful spirit who enriched the lives of his family and friends in countless ways. He was a lifelong advocate for equality. He participated in protests during the civil rights movement in the 1960s and marched alongside sanitation workers in Memphis during their strike for fair wages. He also attended Martin Luther King Jr.’s last talk in 1968 on the eve of King’s assassination.
In addition to his wife Karen, David is survived by two stepdaughters, Stephanie (Brad) Simmons of Roswell, GA and Michelle (Rich) Crawford of Waltham, MA; grandchildren include Elizabeth and Meredith Gafford; Andy, Rosie, Ceci, and Anton Crawford; and three children with his first wife, Susan Dedman: Catherine, David, and Leesa Weis, all of Florida; a nephew Mark Reisman and niece Nicole Reisman.
David’s life will be honored in a private memorial service at a future date. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to either of the following organizations:
Equal Justice Initiative - online at www.eji.org or by check to Equal Justice Initiative, 122 Commerce St., Montgomery, AL 36104
Farm Sanctuary - online at farmsanctuary.org or by check to Farm Sanctuary, P.O. Box 150, Watkins Glen, NY 14891
Where applicable please note "In memory of David H. Weis" and the recipient name as Karen Weis at [email protected].
And the days are not long enough
And the nights are not long enough
And life slips by like a field mouse
Barely shaking the grass ~Ezra Pound
(as recited by David)