Arthur Reis Jr. ’39

Right up to the end he was carrying out his long-held duties as manager of ’39’s Annual Giving and assisting in every way possible to fill in the gaps in leadership as we lost class officers in recent years. As a fundraiser, he won awards annually for his service to the University. In 2007, Art was awarded Princeton’s highest honor for service — the Harold Helm Distinguished Service Award.

After graduation, Art became the youngest executive at Pan American Airways. During World War II he was a captain in the Air Transport Command. Then for 32 years he served as president of Robert Reis and Co., a family apparel business started by his grandfather in 1885 and run by his father until 1947. He was a member of the executive committee of the New York Chamber of Commerce and was appointed by Gov. Thomas Dewey in 1954 to the Committee on the Refugee Relief Act to coordinate placing refugees in New York State.

Art’s cherished wife, Muriel, died only weeks before him. He is survived by his son, Arthur H.; daughters Diane and Pamela; and four grandchildren. To all the family, we extend our sympathy on their loss of this most unusual and much-loved man.