Herbert Weiman Sr.; attorney served at war-crimes tribunal

Herbert R. Weiman Sr., 88, of Wynnewood, an attorney in Philadelphia for 50 years, died Monday, Nov. 4, of cancer at Bryn Mawr Hospital.

After training at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, Mr. Weiman maintained a law practice on Allegheny Avenue in Port Richmond and also on John F. Kennedy Boulevard in Center City.

His specialty was family law.

He chaired the Family Law Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association, and in 1980, was instrumental in enacting a new divorce code for Pennsylvania. He retired in 2012 at age 87.

During World War II, he served in the Navy, from 1943 to 1946, and was honorably discharged with the rank of lieutenant. His duties included serving as aide to the chief defense counsel at the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal in Japan, his family said.

He told of being the Allies' liaison with then-imprisoned Hideki Tojo, prime minister at the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. For his part in leading Japan into war, Tojo was executed as a war criminal in 1948.

According to Mr. Weiman's military discharge papers, he was called back into service April 1, 1952, and sent to Korea, where he was a special services officer. He investigated damage to boats for the Military Sea Transport Service. He was honorably discharged again Nov. 17, 1953.

For his contributions, he was awarded the Korean Service Medal with two stars, according to his discharge papers.

Mr. Weiman's interest in the theater drew him to the Yokohama Players while he was stationed in Japan. Later, he became a principal actor with the theater wing of the Philadelphia Bar Association.

He acted in an original play staged by the Wilma Theater in Philadelphia and also appeared onstage for the National Repertory Theater and Plays for Living.

He appeared as an extra in the movies Witness and Trading Places.

"He was interested in so many things in life, and having the experience" of performing, said his son David.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, the former Ruth Leon; three other sons, Jonathan, Max, and Edward; and 13 grandchildren. His son and law partner Herbert R. Weiman Jr., died in 1999 at age 40 of a malignant brain tumor.

Services will be held at 1 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 6, at Joseph Levine & Sons, 4737 Street Rd., Trevose. Interment is in Roosevelt Memorial Park.

Donations may be made to Philadelphia VIP, which provides legal services to those in need, by linking to http://www.phillyvip.org/.