John Giffen Weinmann

John 'Jack' Giffen Weinmann passed away late Thursday evening, June 9, 2016, in New Orleans. A native of New Orleans, Mr. Weinmann was a graduate of Tulane University and Tulane Law School and had a long career as an attorney, businessman, and diplomat. In 2013, Mr. Weinmann was one of the inaugural inductees into the Tulane Law School Hall of Fame. Long a supporter of the Law School, the Tulane Law School building was named in his honor. He also served as Chairman of the Board of Administrators of Tulane University. For many years, he was a partner in the law firm of Phelps, Dunbar. He became general counsel of the New Orleans Times-Picayune and the Rathborne Land Company. He was chairman of the Young Lawyers and of the Section of Bar Activities of the American Bar Association, as well as being a member of the House of Delegates. He held a number of leadership positions in the Louisiana State Bar Association. In 1984, Mr. Weinmann served as Commissioner General of the Louisiana World Exposition in New Orleans. He traveled internationally to recruit countries to participate in the LWE, building relationships in an important diplomatic role for Louisiana and the United States. President George H.W. Bush named Mr. Weinmann as U.S. Ambassador to Finland in 1989. During his tenure, the American Embassy hosted a summit meeting between Presidents Bush and Gorbachev of the Soviet Union. In addition, the Inspector General named the embassy as one of the best managed in Europe, a rare honor for a political appointee. The President then chose Ambassador Weinmann as Chief of Protocol of the White House in 1991. His duties included introducing visiting heads of state to the President, managing Blair House, the President's guest house, and being the lead diplomat to ambassadors from all foreign countries. In 1996, Ambassador Weinmann was Rex, King of Carnival. He participated actively in various Carnival organizations. Throughout his life he was also a dedicated volunteer and respected leader in numerous civic organizations, from education to historic preservation. In addition to civic leadership, Ambassador Weinmann was a member of the Stratford Club, the Pickwick Club, the Confrerie des Chevaliers du Tastevin, the New Orleans Country Club, the Southern Yacht Club, the Society of Colonial Wars, the University Club of New York City, and the Metropolitan Club of Washington, D.C. Ambassador Weinmann is survived by his wife of 61 years, Virginia Eason Weinmann, his five children, Winston Weinmann (Brooke) of Atlanta, GA; Robert Weinmann (Cindy) of Metairie, LA; Giffen Weinmann, (CiCi) of Dallas, TX; Mary Virginia Weinmann Coffman (Peter) of Atlanta, GA, and George Weinmann (Beibei) of Beijing, China, and sixteen grandchildren. A Memorial Service will be on Tuesday, June 14, 2016 at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1329 Jackson Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130 at 12:00 noon. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m.