Albert Reese Jr

Durango resident, Albert Moore Reese, Jr., died Sunday, June 15, 2014, at home. He was 81.
Known as “Al”, Mr. Reese was born to Dr. Albert Moore Reese, Sr. and Carrie Nelle (Summers) Reese on April 5, 1933, in Morgantown, West Virginia.
His was an exceptionally academically-oriented family. His father, a Phi Beta Kappa, who earned his doctorate at John’s Hopkins University, was a longtime professor at the University of West Virginia and served as the chair of the Biology Department and as the pre-med advisor for many years. His mother, a member of the first graduating class of the University of Alabama that included women, obtained her Master’s Degree from Columbia University and also taught at the college level prior to marriage.
Mr. Reese graduated from Westtown Prep School, West Chester, Pennsylvania, in 1950. He earned a Bachelor Degree of Arts Degree, with honors, from the University of West Virginia in 1954 and a Master of Science Degree from Boston University’s School of Public Communications in 1959. A Korean War Veteran, Mr. Reese was a Captain in the United States Air Force (Strategic Air Command).
As a young man, he worked as a publicist for Boston University, a newspaper reporter, and an acting entertainment editor for the “Shreveport (Louisiana) Times,” and a public information officer for the Air Force.
During the 1960’s and the early 1970’s, Mr. Reese served as the Director of Public Relations for the United Community Services of Metropolitan Boston and later for the United Way of San Diego County.
While working in San Diego, he met his future wife, Susan Holt. The couple married April 3, 1971, in San Diego.
In the mid-1970’s, Mr. Reese became a management consultant for the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau, where he subsequently was named Vice President of Public Affairs. He held this position until his retirement in the 1990’s.
A leader in his field and community, Mr. Reese was President of the Massachusetts (and later) the San Diego Chapters of the Industrial Editors Association, as well as the San Diego Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. He was an active board member of many groups and organizations, including the San Diego County Columbus Quincentenary Commission, the American Cancer Society of San Diego County, the Mexico-United States Border Governor’s Conference (tourism section), and the International Association of Business Communicators.
Mr. Reese was accredited by the Public Relations Society of American and named in the “Who’s Who in Public Relations” (U.S. and International Editions), “The Dictionary of International Biography (7th-12th editions), and “Who’s Who in the West.”
Mr. Reese was widely regarded by family and friends as a “walking encyclopedia” of American music and cinema, especially from the 1920’s to the 1950’s. He knew the names and works of composers, lyricists, directors, producers, and performers and had amassed an impressive collection of books and record albums, all carefully indexed by type. To his wife’s dismay, the biographies of those artists he admired filled the three large bookcases in their home to overflowing.
Mr. Reese was equally passionate about travel, particularly by train and ship, which he regarded as “the only civilized way to travel.” He once talked his wife into travelling from San Diego to Boston by train–via Seattle! One of his favorite cruises took the Reese’s from the Port of Los Angeles through the Panama Canal and down the east coast of South America to Rio de Janeiro. His write–up of this trip was published in the travel section of the “Los Angeles Times.”
Unable to talk his wife into taking a trip on a freighter, at the age of 75, he booked one for himself. Upon boarding he discovered he was the only passenger and one of the very few persons aboard the ship who spoke English. He had a marvelous time!
After his and his wife’s retirements, the Reese’s moved to Durango, Colorado in 1997 to assist with the care of his wife’s parents. In his new home, Mr. Reese continued his lifelong support of community organizations. He volunteered for the City’s Lodger’s Tax Committee and served as vice chair for state mandates for the La Plata County Democratic Committee. He was active in his Homeowner’s Association, chairing committees and serving as board president. He volunteered for phone banks and walked the steep streets of his neighborhood for many political candidates.
Mr. Reese is survived by his wife of 43 years, Susan Holt Reese, and by six nephews.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to “West Virginia University Foundation” P.O. Box 1650, Morgantown, WVA 26507-1650. Please put “Dr. Albert M. Reese Scholarship” in the check memo line.