S. Sheldon Weinhaus

Sheldon Weinhaus passed away in 2021. He was inducted as a Charter Fellow of the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel in 2000.

Sheldon was a tireless advocate for the underprivileged and underserved members of our community. He marched with the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., served as a founding executive board member and second president of the Patient Advocate Foundation, was appointed by President Clinton to serve on the Presidential Advisory Commission on Consumer Protection and Quality in the Health Care Industry, and was a member of the National Institute of Health Task Force on Bioethics in Cancer Research.

Practicing in his own small firm, Sheldon frequently found himself opposite well-heeled adversaries. No matter the odds against him, Sheldon was relentless in the pursuit of justice on behalf of his clients, many of whom were individuals with very limited resources. One such client was James Geissal, who was denied COBRA continuation coverage by his employer after being fired while suffering from cancer. After receiving adverse rulings at both the trial court and Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, Sheldon argued the case before the United States Supreme Court. In a unanimous decision in favor of Sheldon’s client issued in 1998, the Supreme Court held in Geissal v Moore Medical Corporation that an employer may not deny COBRA continuation coverage to a qualified beneficiary merely because he is covered under another group health plan at the time he makes his COBRA election.

Advancing age did nothing to diminish Sheldon’s passion for helping those in need. He continued to provide pro bono services in the employee benefits area through Legal Services of Eastern Missouri and the South Central Pension Rights Project until shortly before he died at age 90.

Photo Source: The Decade Book, American College of Employee Benefits Counsel 2000-2010