Joseph Jerry Reiner Obituary

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Joseph Jerry Reiner of Suffern, New York, who passed away on October 31, 2023. Cause of death was COVID-19 contracted while in hospital. Reiner became a resident of Suffern in 1962.

He was a first generation American of humble means, who grew up on Manhattan's Lower East Side in the post-Depression Era. Though his parents knew little English, he overcame countless obstacles to earn a master's degree in Civil Engineering from the City College of New York. As a chief structural engineer, he worked for New York City's most prestigious engineering firms, including Andrews and Clark, Ebasco, and Raytheon.

While at Andrews and Clark, he was mentored by Ernest Clark, who was famously known for winning major engineering contracts working with legendary planner Robert Moses. Jerry Reiner's engineering designs where incorporated in the construction of the 1964 New York World's Fair, the Cross County Expressway, the Long Island Expressway, the winter track at Aqueduct, the redesign of Belmont Race Track, 8 new bridges at the Staten Island approach leading to the Verazzano Narrows Bridge, and projects spanning from Arizona to Pennsylvania to Delaware. Reiner was married to Marilyn Held Reiner, a science educator recognized as New York State's Awardee for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching, until her death in 2004.

Reiner leaves behind three children: Brian Reiner of Suffern, who studied math and biochemistry at Brandeis University and was noted for making an important discovery in number theory; Harrison Reiner of Los Angeles, who works for CBS Television Studios; and Melinda Reiner a podiatric surgeon turned women's sports coach. Reiner is survived by his nieces and nephews, Francine Richter, Janice Kotofsky, Randy Amick, Harvey Tannenbaum, Howard Held, Richard Held, and Corey Held. Jerry Reiner was a man of rare character, who believed all people should be treated equally and have equal opportunity, no matter where they were born, where they grew up, and no matter their color.

A supplemental needs trust will be established in honor of Jerry Reiner to benefit his special needs son in coming weeks. Please return to this page later for details. Jerry Reiner was the best of men.