Ed Reis

07/23/1931 - 08/05/2025

Edwin John Reis, a cherished husband, father, brother, and friend, passed away peacefully on August 5, 2025, at Sibley Memorial Hospital at the age of 94. He was born on July 23, 1931, in Staten Island, New York, to David and Esther Reis.
A graduate of Brooklyn College and Columbia Law School, Ed dedicated his life to public service as a career attorney at the Department of Justice, Federal Highway Administration, and other federal agencies. He retired from a senior executive service position in the office of the general counsel at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Ed was a passionate hiker and, with his wife, Sylvia, a lifelong member of the Appalachian Mountain Club. Their travels took them on adventures throughout the United States and over the world--including hiking in the Canadian Rockies, China, India, Nepal, Africa, and South America and sailing in the Caribbean and Mediterranean Seas. Ed's creativity shone in his woodworking. He crafted beautiful furniture that graced his and Sylvia's home and will now find a place in the homes of his family's next generations.
Ed is survived by his beloved wife of more than 60 years, Sylvia Jean Reis, their son Charles Reis and daughter Rebecca Reis, his brother Richard Reis and sister-in-law Mary Ruth Reis and their family, along with Sylvia's cousins Larry and Victoria Rothenberg. He was predeceased by his parents and his brother Bernard Irwin Reis.
A memorial celebration of Ed's life will take place in the coming weeks at Temple Sinai in the District of Columbia. It will also be streamed for those who cannot attend in person. Friends and family are encouraged to reach out to Richard Reis at rpreis80@outlook.com for details regarding date, time, and other details of this remembrance.