William Reel Obituary
NORTH SUTTON -- William J. Reel, 71, of Shaker Road, died May 3, 2010 at home.
He was born in Canaan, Conn., April 14, 1939, to Joseph Slocum and Cynthia (Parsons) Reel. He graduated from Salisbury School, in Salisbury, Conn. in 1957 and attended Yale University for two years. In 1959, he moved to Staten Island, N.Y., where he lived for 44 years.
He worked for the Daily News in New York City for 38 years, beginning as a copy boy in 1962, then as a makeup editor, feature writer, cityside reporter and religion reporter before becoming a columnist in 1974. He moved from the Daily News to Newsday in 1991 and retired in 2001. In retirement, he wrote a weekly column for The Tablet until 2007.
His columns celebrated ordinary New Yorkers, and often told of down-and-outers touched by grace and restored to happy and useful lives.
IN HIS LIFE: A book of selected Newsday columns, Get Reel -- The Brooklyn Boy and Other Stories of Faith in the City, was published in 1995 by Andrews and McMeel.
In 1980, the Society of Silurians honored Bill with an award for humorous writing. Twice in the 1980s, the New York City Patrolmen's Benevolent Association recognized him for columns capturing the dedication of police officers. In 1996, Manhattan College awarded Bill an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters.
Lastly, in 2009, he received the Reflection Award at the 22nd annual Good Counsel "Ball for Life" event at the New York Racquet and Tennis Club. The plaque read: To Bill Reel -- Who wrote about ordinary New Yorkers in an extraordinary way.
He leaves his wife of 45 years, Sue Ellen Reel of Sutton; a son, Joseph S. Reel of Sutton; a son and daughter-in-law, John J. Reel and Virginia Fuentes Valencia of Seville, Spain, and Sutton; a daughter and son-in-law, Ursula and Matthew Hennessey of New York City; and five grandchildren, Clara, Magdalena, Blas, Patrick and Ryan.
SERVICES: A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Monday at noon at Our Lady of Fatima Church in New London. Calling hours will be before the Mass, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., at Chadwick Funeral Home, 235 Main Street, New London.
Donations may be made to the Norris Cotton Cancer Center at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, One Medical Center Drive, Lebanon 03756 or to Lake Sunapee Region Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice, P.O. Box 2209, New London 03257.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Robert G. Oliver
May 19, 2010
Our prayers and condolences to Bill's family from his classmates in the Yale College Class of 1962.
May 12, 2010
Bill was a wonderful co-worker at the Daily News. He enjoyed success but never let it go to his head. Godspeed.
-- Bob McCormick (Staten Island, NY)
Fred Baldwin
May 8, 2010
Billy and I were kids growing up in Canaan, CT. We played baseball in the same Little League. Billy to the dismay of the coaches and the opposing batters threw curve balls. Kids weren't supposed to do that back then. A bunch of us kids played basketball in the old Catholic Church building. As I remember it, Billy was one of the very few kids who actually owned a basketball. Dan Hall and Billy used to play tennis on the old tennis courts in Canaan. Recently while producing a DVD, world series hero, Steve Blass, commented on how Ron Dower, Billy Reel and he used to practice turning double plays in Ron's backyard.
I'm sorry that we didn't get to renew our friendship in recent years. Now I pray for his soul and for God to watch over his precious wife and family.
Peace to all.
Dan Hall
May 8, 2010
To the Reel family:
Those of us from Bill's days in Canaan want you to know how grateful we are for his friendship. Growing up, we learned from his positive outlook and his concern for others. His rare ability over the years to highlight the good that people do will be an inspiration and will live on in our memories of him.
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Mary Ghaney
May 5, 2010
To Mr. Reel's Family, I was so sorry to hear of his passing. I enjoyed his columns in the Daily News. I followed him then in Newsday and The Tablet. I felt like I knew this wonderful man. God Bless Bill and his whole family.
fjohn reinke (mc1968)
May 5, 2010
The Manhattan College alumni community shares the grief, and is now praying for our exemplar and the family at this time. Honorary degree recipients are chosen as examples of good men for us to emulate. We recognize them, as we do our fellow alumni, on the theory "that we can always pray for all good people". Perhaps, example was both formative to our students and alums. And important to our comrade in the "good fight". The Alumni Office has been informed. As well as the Jasper Jottings community that I personally can reach. We are all a little poorer now. "No man is an island, entire of itself ... any man's death diminishes me". We are sorry for your loss.
Amy Roche
May 5, 2010
I will always remember my Uncle Bill as a kind and loving family man. He was funny and upbeat and really knew how to tell a story! He was an inspiration. I'll miss you, Uncle Bill.
Mary Mosher
May 5, 2010
Bill Reel was a gentleman and a godly man. It was a true privilege to have known him. His smile was contagious.
May God grant you His peace and consolation during this difficult time.
The students and faculty at Holy Family Academy will remember you all in our daily prayers and at Holy Mass.
The Staff of Chadwick Funeral Service
May 5, 2010
Offering our deepest condolences during this difficult time.
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