Ana Maria Weidner
February 1951 – October 2024
Ana Maria Weidner’s passion for animals defined her life as much as her remarkable accomplishments in business and the arts. Born in Lima, Peru, she built a successful translation agency in San Francisco, but her true calling was protecting “souls” — her affectionate term for the animals she rescued and rehomed. Ana loved all animals without hierarchy — donkeys, whales, birds, and especially dogs — and they loved her back. Even the shy ones that fled from others.
Ana gave generously and anonymously to causes she believed in, and approached animal welfare with the same intelligence, discipline, and creativity she brought to everything else. Those who knew Ana remember her compassion, which she expressed through action. She wanted to improve circumstances for others, with no interest in recognition for herself.
The Foundation honors both her vision for a peaceable world free from animal cruelty and the fierce, practical compassion with which she pursued it.
Of all the wonderful traits that Ana Maria Weidner exhibited, her most prominent was kindness. She would go to great lengths to express her kindness and help others, especially animals. Her success allowed her to give substantial gifts to so many organizations and individuals. It is because of her generosity and the support of Dean Weidner, Ana’s beloved husband of more than 27 years, that the Ana Maria Weidner Foundation is able to carry forward Ana’s wonderful legacy for animals.
W. Dean Weidner
August 1942 – March 2026
The Ana Maria Weidner Foundation would not exist without Dean Weidner’s devotion to his wife and his belief in the causes she held dear. While Dean built one of North America’s largest residential real estate companies — Weidner Apartment Homes, which he founded in 1977 — his support for Ana’s mission to protect animals was among his most meaningful contributions.
Giving back was essential to him. Throughout his life, Dean directed his philanthropy toward the communities and causes that mattered most, and Ana’s passion for animal welfare was no exception. His generosity made it possible for her vision of a more compassionate world to endure after Ana’s passing, and it is because of his unwavering support that her foundation carries that work forward today.
Dean’s legacy, almost as much as Ana’s, is woven into this foundation and our work. We are grateful for the life he built alongside her, and for his gift of ensuring her love for animals will continue to have an impact for decades to come.