Ronald Reisner

PRINCETON JUNCTION, NJ - RONALD L. REISNER passed away on Wednesday, May 19, 2021, at Artis Senior Living in Princeton Junction, NJ. He was 75.

Ron was a loving father, grandfather, brother, son and loyal friend. A native of Brooklyn, NY, he was born into a close-knit family with deep roots in New York City. He received a bachelor's degree from Brooklyn College, obtained a PhD in Political Science from Columbia University, and later, completed a law degree from Rutgers University.

Throughout his career he was dedicated to improving the lives of others as a public servant and educator. He spoke fondly of his work and colleagues who became lifelong friends. While attending Columbia, he started his career working as an aide in the John Lindsay mayoral administration. He left New York for a job at the New Jersey Department of Transportation and relocated to the suburbs of South Brunswick, New Jersey - in a new housing development built on farmland, quite the shock to lifelong NYC relatives.

While at NJ DOT, he served in the Policy Analysis Office. With several colleagues, he co-authored the legislation that created the New Jersey Transit Corporation. Joining NJ Transit, he worked in a variety of executive positions over the years - Board Secretary; Assistant Executive Director, Private Carrier Affairs; Director, Property Management and Development; Deputy Assistant Executive Director for Compliance and Deputy Assistant Executive Director for Quality Assurance and Carrier Contracts.

In the next phase of his career, he taught political science and criminal justice at the undergraduate and graduate levels - an adjunct at Rutgers College and tenured professor at Monmouth University. As someone who spent a lot of time in the classroom as a student, it is no surprise he was in his element as a teacher and had a passion for the work.

Ron's interests were varied. He loved summers at the beach. He could tell you every Kentucky Derby winner going back over 50 years. He was a regular attendee at the US Open Tennis tournament with his son. He was easily caught dancing to or belting out Bruce Springsteen songs. He had a subscription to regional theatre. He would never miss a dance recital or school celebration for his dear granddaughters.

Someone with the brightest of minds, he was treated for a rare neurodegenerative Parkinsonian disorder, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). Since 2014, the condition led to a deterioration of his mental, physical and visual abilities.

Someone with the kindest of hearts, there was nothing more important to Ron than his family. His favorite roles in the world were that of father and grandfather. He was selfless.

Ron was predeceased by his parents William and Rose (Rachnowitz) Reisner. Surviving are his daughter, Melissa Kochinski and her husband, Steven, of Monroe Township, NJ; son, Jordan Reisner and his wife, Beth, of New York, NY; brother, Ed Reisner and his wife, Gwen, of Voorhees, NJ; ex-wife Barbara Reisner, of Princeton, NJ; grandchildren, Julia Kochinski, Ella Kochinski, Sydney Kochinski and Madeline Reisner.

Graveside service will be held on Friday, May 21, 2021, at 10:45am at Floral Park Cemetery, South Brunswick, NJ, under the direction of MOUNT SINAI MEMORIAL CHAPELS, East Brunswick. For directions, please visit our "Services" page.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either: CurePSP at 1216 Broadway, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10001 or online by making a gift in tribute at psp.org/iwanttohelp/ways-to-give/.