Weinberg’s last visit to Portland was two years ago to celebrate the Blazers' NBA title in '76-77TRAIL BLAZERS
Trail Blazers Founding Partner and former Owner LARRY WEINBERG has died at 92 after a "multi-year battle with bone marrow cancer," according to Joe Freeman of the Portland OREGONIAN. Weinberg teamed with Founding President HARRY GLICKMAN and investors HERMAN SARKOWSKY and ROBERT SCHMERTZ to "secure expansion rights to an NBA franchise," and in '75 became the Blazers’ majority owner. Weinberg eventually sold the Blazers to PAUL ALLEN for $70M in '88 and Allen "owned the team until his death" last October. Weinberg was "shy and quiet by nature, but also easygoing and personable to those who knew him best." He spent most of his time in L.A., but when Weinberg visited Portland, he "made it a point to stop by the Blazers offices to chat with his employees." Weinberg was both "passionate about the Blazers and intimately involved with the day-to-day operations of the team." He listened to longtime radio man BILL SCHONELY's broadcasts "religiously" (Portland OREGONIAN, 1/3). NBCSPORTSNORTHWEST.com's Dwight Jaynes noted Weinberg kept "close track of his favorite NBA team until his death." He was a "kind, generous man who cared deeply about the world and its people." He was a World War II veteran who was "wounded in France and spent a year in military hospitals recovering." Weinberg’s last visit to Portland was two years ago when the team "celebrated the 40th anniversary of its championship" (NBCSPORTSNORTHWEST.com, 1/2).
