Longtime North Haven resident Robert F. Reiser dies at 78 - 27 East

Longtime North Haven resident Robert F. Reiser dies at 78

icon 1 Photo

author on Apr 8, 2010

Former North Haven Mayor Robert F. Reiser died on April 3 while visiting with his daughter in Hingham, Massachusetts. He was 78.

Born to Frank and Grace Reiser and raised in Brooklyn, he attended Xavier High School in Manhattan and graduated from St. Peter’s College, a Jesuit institution in New Jersey where he was editor of the college newspaper. Following graduation he was commissioned as an officer in U.S. Army Military Intelligence and after his discharge earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School in 1958.

During his first summer at Harvard he worked as a deckhand on Moran tugboats in New York Harbor, which inspired his love of boats and the sea. Upon graduating, he took a position with Moran Towing Company and before long was appointed sales manager. Following this experience, he began a distinguished career in business, education and public service and throughout 25 years he held several executive positions at Xerox Corporation—a Fortune 500 company—his last as president of Xerox International. He later taught at Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, where he became chairman of the marketing department.

Mr. Reiser had summered in Sag Harbor since childhood. He and his wife, Mary Reiser, made North Haven their permanent home in 1993. He was twice elected mayor of North Haven Village, serving from 1998 to 2002. He was a trustee of the John Jermain Memorial Library in Sag Harbor for many years, and became president of its board in the late 1990s. Most recently Mr. Reiser served as president of the Sag Harbor Community Food Pantry and was a lector and a member of the St. Andrew’s Catholic Church Restoration Committee.

An avid sailor, he was a member of the Sag Harbor Yacht Club and made many ocean voyages. He also was a skier and golfer and belonged to the Noyac Golf Club. He spent many summer days umpiring Little League games because, according to survivors, it was his belief that sports are important for youth.

In addition to his wife of 53 years, he is survived by a daughter, Mary and her husband Dr. Walter O’Donnell of Massachusetts; five sons, Jack and his wife Linda Reiser of North Haven, Mark Reiser of North Carolina, Robert and his wife Bernadette Reiser of Virginia, Martin Reiser of Washington D.C. and Peter Reiser of California; four granddaughters, Erin, Bridget, Kathleen and Mary Claire; and seven grandsons, Timothy, Daniel, Michael, Brendan, Thomas, Walter, and Robert. He was predeceased by a sister, Mary Jane Woodward.

A funeral mass was held on April 7 at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Sag Harbor. Interment followed at St. Andrew’s Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Cormaria Retreat House, P.O. Box 1993, Sag Harbor, NY 11963, or to St. Andrew’s Church, 122 Division Street, Sag Harbor, NY 11963 would be appreciated by the family.

You May Also Like:

East End Historical Societies and Museums Join Forces for Long Island History Hunt

Long Island museums and historical societies have teamed up to host the Long Island History ... 4 Jul 2025 by Dan Stark

Southampton Class of 2025 Receives Diplomas

The members of Southampton High School’s Class of 2025 were presented with their diplomas during ... by Staff Writer

LaLota Votes for Spending Compromise That Raises SALT Cap, but Only for Five Years

The House of Representatives adopted a federal spending bill on Thursday afternoon that will raise ... 3 Jul 2025 by Michael Wright

John Adams Dix Windmill Dedicated in Westhampton Beach

Local elected officials and village residents from gathering on the morning of Wednesday, July 2 ... by Dan Stark

Small-Town America at Its Best: Southampton Village's Fourth of July Parade Is a Proud Tradition, More Than 100 Years Strong

When it comes to Southampton Village traditions, there is perhaps none bigger or more beloved ... by Cailin Riley

Elyce Arons Discusses Friendship, Mental Health, and Her New Book, 'We Might Just Make It After All: My Best Friendship With Kate Spade'

Elyce Arons met Kate Spade when the two were just 18 years old, both freshmen ... by Hope Hamilton

Quail Ridge Residents Scramble After Apartments Are Purchased for Redevelopment | 27Speaks Podcast

The tenants of Quail Ridge — the two dozen studio and one-bedroom apartments spread over ... by 27Speaks

A Family Partnership, Built on a Legacy of Giving: Norsic and Gulija Will Debut New Restaurant, Feniks, in Southampton Village This Summer

When Skip Norsic sold his business, the carting company Emil Norsic and Son, in 2022, ... by Cailin Riley

Southampton Police Reports for the Week of July 3

WESTHAMPTON BEACH — Marcelino Perez-Tax, 56, of Westhampton Beach was arrested on June 29 at 8:36 p.m. and charged with misdemeanor DWI. Village Police said Perez-Tax had a blood alcohol level of .08. He was pulled over after being observed driving on the shoulder and failing to stay in his lane, police reported. His vehicle was seized by police because he had a previous DWI conviction in Southampton Town in November of 2013. SOUTHAMPTON VILLAGE — Village Police received a report of a stolen vehicle from outside a Main Street business at 11 a.m. on June 25. A responding officer ... 2 Jul 2025 by Staff Writer

East End Little League Finishes Strong in District 36 Tournament

The East End Little League 12-and-under baseball All-Stars finished strong in District 36, winning their ... by Drew Budd