Louis Weinstock; Union, Communist Party Official

Louis Weinstock, a New York labor official who was a leader in the U.S. Communist Party for more than half a century, has died. He was 91.

Weinstock, who lived in Hemet, Calif., died Saturday of heart failure at the Brookside Healthcare Center in Redlands.

Weinstock was born in Hungary and immigrated to New York in 1924, rising quickly in the ranks of the painters union and becoming its head.

He later became a member of the Communist Party central board, and was called “Mr. May Day” for his work organizing the annual parade. In the 1960s, he was business manager for the Daily Worker.

Weinstock was imprisoned in 1955 with 12 other Communists for conspiring to teach and advocate the overthrow of the government. He spent 27 months in prison and when he was released he received a hero’s welcome at a Communist Party rally at Carnegie Hall.

During the Depression, Weinstock campaigned for Social Security.

“People had to fight for it,” he told The Times in 1985. “There were hunger marches in this country. People said, ‘Louie, you’re 28, why are you fighting for old age pensions?’ But I did it for myself too. Now I’m enjoying Social Security.”

Weinstock is survived by his wife, Rose; his daughter, Susan; his son, John; three grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.