Paul J. Reiss, former Executive Vice President of Fordham University and 14th president of Saint Michael’s College in Vermont died on February 28th at age 93 in Lake Placid, NY, his birthplace. He was predeceased by his wife, the former Rosemary Donohue, last year.
He earned a BA at Holy Cross College, received his Master’s in Sociology at Fordham University and his PhD from Harvard University. After teaching at Marquette University through 1963, Reiss joined the faculty of Fordham, became Chairman of the Sociology Dept., the first Dean of the College at Lincoln Center, and then Academic VP. Dr Reiss served on the publications committee of the American Sociological Association, was an editor of Sociological Analysis: A Journal of the Sociology of Religion, and was President of the Association for the Sociology of Religion. He was an adviser on family ministry to Terrence Cardinal Cooke, Archbishop of New York.
Starting in 1974, Dr Reiss served as Executive Vice President of Fordham University for 10 years, managing all of its academic and business affairs. Fordham awarded Dr Reiss its Insignis medal in 1985. He chaired accreditation committees for ten different colleges and universities. Dr. Reiss became the President of St. Michael’s College in 1985. He oversaw the renovation or new construction of 80% of its facilities, including the library and information technology, and led the faculty in recommitting to its mission and Catholic identity. He built a president’s home on campus, generously donating it to the college, and it is now known as the Reiss House. He was President of both the Association of Vermont Independent Colleges and the Vermont Higher Education Council, and served on the boards of the American Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, the New England Colleges Fund, the Fanny Allen Hospital, and the greater Burlington Industrial Commission.
Beginning in 1959, Reiss managed a summer camp in Lake Placid, established by his father, NY civil rights and business leader Julian J. Reiss. Dr. Reiss’ innovative partnership with the Nativity Mission Center School on New York’s lower east side through 2012 served as a model for the development of a nationwide network of over 60 Nativity Miguel schools. The Reiss Foundation camps now partner with St. Ignatius School in the Bronx and CitySquash of NYC. In retirement, Paul published a book, Dad about the life of his beloved father.
Dr. Reiss was a representative to the 1989 Vatican consultation that refined the role of religion in Catholic higher education under Pope John Paul II. Named 1996 Vermont Distinguished Citizen of the Year, and awarded honorary degrees from Middlebury College and Showa University of Japan, his published works in sociology covered family issues, higher education, and moral values in Catholic education.
In 2007 Reiss co-founded, and was President, then Chairperson, of Mercy Care for the Adirondacks, an innovative community program for supporting seniors “aging in place.” In 2010, he received the Liberty Bell Award from the Essex County Bar Association. Paul served as President of the Lake Placid Sinfonietta and many years on its board.
In September 2022, Dr. Reiss and the Reiss Foundation received the Graymoor award for hospitality from the Franciscan Friars of Atonement, in New York.
Paul is survived by three daughters, Cathy (C.C.) Sloan, Julia (Jeff) DeSantis, and Martha (Ted) Acworth, six sons, Paul (Joanne), Greg (Liza), Mark, David (Pam), Steve (Shannon) and John (Marybeth), 30 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, his brother Peter Reiss and sister Patricia (Patti) Brooks. Paul was predeceased by brothers Tom and Bob Reiss and sister Mary Watson.