Dr. Gerald S. Reisner
April 10, 1926 ~ September 28, 2017
Dr. Gerald S. Reisner, Professor Emeritus of Biology at Allegheny College (1958-1996) passed away, on Thursday, September 28, 2017 at Crawford County Care Center.
Dr. Reisner was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on April 10, 1926, a son of Dr. Irving and Bessie Reisner. A brother, Robert, preceded him in death.
He attended Townsend Harris and Boys High School in Brooklyn, and Cornell University from 1943-1944 as a member of the ASTP of the Army Reserves. After serving in the group for a year, he was called up for duty in the Army of United States as a private in the infantry. He was then transferred to the Advanced ASTP at Virginia Polytechnic Institutes at Blacksburg, V.A. where he studied electrical engineering for one year. In 1945 he was transferred to the Signal Corps and honorably discharged in 1946. He then entered the N. Y. State College for Teachers at Brockport, transferring to the N.Y. State College for Teachers at Albany from which he received the A.B. and M.A. degrees. In August of 1949, he married Estelle Siegel. They are the parents of four children, Judge Susan Reisner, Dr. Andrew Reisner, Bruce Reisner and Rebecca Reisner; grandparents of Aurora, Sophie, David and Alyssa. After teaching for three years at Altamont H.S., he transferred to Cornell University, where he received a M.S. in Plant Physiology and Biochemistry and a Ph.D. in Plant Physiology, Biochemistry and Microbiology.
His doctoral research was carried out as a research aide in the Department of Agriculture, Ithaca, N.Y. under John F. Thompson, Ph.D.
He did graduate and postgraduate research on the relationship between mineral nutrition and nitrogen metabolism in the alga Cholrella viridian, publishing papers in the journals Plant Physiology, Nature, Canadian Journal of Microbiology, and Applied and Analytical Microbiology.
In addition to his 38 years of teaching biology at Allegheny College, Meadville, he taught as a substitute at Meadville High and Middle School for ten years, was a reader to second graders at Seton School, and served as a CASA for Crawford Country Court. He also was active in the John Brown Society for several years and a long-term member of the Essayists. He belonged to the Meadville Jewish Center where he served in a variety of roles.
Family and friends are welcome to call on Sunday, October 1, 2017 from 7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. at RYAN M. WARREN FUNERAL HOME and Cremations Services, Inc., 544 Chestnut Street, Meadville, PA. Funeral service will be held on Monday, October 2, 2017 at 11:00 A.M. at the funeral home with Dr. Adrienne Krone and Martin A. Goldberg, officiating.
Burial will take place in Hebrew Cemetery, Meadville, PA.
Please take a moment to share a memory or condolence with the family on Dr. Reisner’s Book of Memories online at www.WarrenFH.com.
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I really enjoyed the times Dr. Reisner taught our classes. Everyone loved a substitute teacher, but I would get super excited to see it was him. My thanks to Dr. and Mrs. Reisner. Sending love and prayers to their family.
Dear Estelle,
We are so sad to learn of Gerry’s passing. We were deeply fond of him. We always enjoyed being with him. We remember many wonderful times and conversations with him. I particularly enjoyed our times together in The Essayists.
We had the highest respect for Gerry. He was a learned and wise man. And he had a wonderful wit.
We are out of town till the middle of the week and regret that we cannot be with you at visitation or at the funeral. You and all your family will, however, be in our thoughts and prayers.
We extend to all of you our love and deepest sympathies.
Charlotte and Chris Thomas
Dear Estelle, Susan, Andrew, Bruce and Rebecca,
My brother, Joal (Wolf), sent me the notice of Jerry’s passing. My mom and I were so sad to hear of this, particularly on this solemn day. We have such wonderful memories of your dad, his many words of wisdom and quick wit (loved watching my dad and Jerry trade insights that only they would immediately see). I will light a candle for him today in New Jersye.
Best,
Camille (Wolf) Andrews, Rob Andrews, Phyllis Wolf, Joal Wolf, Karen Wolf Gongaware, and all of our respective families.
Dear Estelle, Susan, Andrew, Bruce and Rebecca,
My brother, Joal (Wolf), sent me the notice of Jerry’s passing. My mom and I were so sad to hear of this, particularly on this solemn day. We have such wonderful memories of your dad, his many words of wisdom and quick wit (loved watching my dad and Jerry trade insights that only they would immediately see). I will light a candle for him today in New Jersey.
Best,
Camille (Wolf) Andrews, Rob Andrews, Phyllis Wolf, Joal Wolf, Karen Wolf Gongaware, and all of our respective families.
Dr. Reisner was a wonderful man. I had him frequently as a substitute teacher at Meadville Senior High School, and I was always so excited to walk into the classroom and see him there. He was kind and gracious and always had a smile on his face, and as annoying as we all probably were at time, he kept coming back! As a young kid, I never thought about the lives my teachers lived, but it’s clear from Dr. Reisner’s obituary that he lived a full life and accomplished so many great things. I feel lucky to have known him. I am very sorry for your loss, but I hope you are able to celebrate the life of a great man!
Dr Reisner was a great substitute teacher at MASH. I always remember the pleasant days when he’d show up, bringing a great joviality and happy spirit to the classroom. It’s been many years since I last saw him but in reflecting on those times he really had a great influence on all of us young kids during very important formative years. Such a good man!
God Bless, and well wishes to the family.
Sincerely,
Justin
My youngest daughter came home from high school one day. She said ” I had the best substitute teachers today. The wife used to be a judge and the husband used to teach at Allegheny. I could have listened to them all day. They were so cute together. She straightened his bow tie and they walked out of school holding hands. I wish they would come back every day.” I said “that sounds like Rebecca’s parents. Was their last name Reisner?” She said ” yes, yes, that is it.” I told her how lucky she was to have such distinguished and intelligent people sharing their gift of knowledge as substitute teachers. Although your loss cuts deeply, I hope that your faith in God helps guide you through this journey. Your father lead a remarkable life that had a positive influence on the young minds that he taught.
Dear Estelle and family, I was saddened to read about Dr. Reisner’s passing. I remember him as a beautiful storyteller in my classroom at Seton School. My students enjoyed learning about the Jewish religion, and they enjoyed learning about Dr. Reisner’s many travels. The lives of my students were also enriched when Dr. Reisner agreed to substitute in my class. In later years, as a substitute teacher myself, I enjoyed having lunch with both you and Dr. Reisner at MASH. The stories and experiences shared, across the lunch table, were memorable. Dr. Reisner was a kind and warm-hearted man. He will be deeply missed. Love and prayers to you and your family. May God hold you in the palm of his hands.
I remember all of the years at different events at the Meadville JCC getting to talk to Gerry. He always had something new to talk about and was always kind and wonderful. Knowing him will always be one of the great memories of growing up in Meadville.