Reinhard, Theodore
NISKAYUNA — Theodore "Ted" Reinhard, 88, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 6, 2020, at his home in Niskayuna.
His life was guided by devotion to family and concern for their wellbeing. Over his 50-year legal career, he was dedicated to his clients, to public service and the economic development of downtown Schenectady.
He was born in Brooklyn on April 10, 1932, to Julius and Sadie Reinhard. In 1934, the family moved to Schenectady. He attended Mont Pleasant High School, staying an extra year to play on the basketball team with friends he kept for all of his life. He received his Bachelor of Laws degree in combined study at Union College and Albany Law School, graduating in 1957. Ted always had a flair for writing and wrote the sports column for the Schenectady Union-Star (1955-1957 and 1959-1961). After law school, he served for two years in the U.S. Army in the Judge Advocate General’s office in Fort Knox, Tenn.
Ted followed many professional sports and every August would be at Saratoga betting on the horses. He enjoyed the opportunity to see major league baseball Spring training in Scottsdale, Ariz. In retirement, he made use of his literary talents, writing short memoirs, blending autobiography into a fanciful journalistic style.
Ted started his career by opening his own practice and was on the staff of the New York State Assembly. In 1966, his professor at Albany Law, Louis Lombardi, invited him to join his practice and he soon became full partner. Ted became senior partner upon Lou’s early death. For many years in Schenectady and later in Colonie, the firm was known as Lombardi, Reinhard, Walsh and Harrison.
From 1967 to 1977, Ted served as Niskayuna town justice. From the 1970s to the 1990s, he was a member and served on various committees as secretary, vice-chair or chairman, they include: Schenectady Economic Development Corp and City of Schenectady Industrial Development Agency. He founded three commercial Real Estate entities: LCR development, Northeast Retail Associates and CRM properties.
Throughout his years of service to the public, Ted remained focused on providing a stable and loving home. The early death of his first wife, Norine Allen (1936 - 1971) almost destroyed him, but he found the strength to continue for his children and was very fortunate when he was introduced to the niece of a golfing buddy. Lenore Rich and Ted were married in 1972 and have had a full life, enjoying family ski vacations, summers sailing on Lake George, travels around the world, and winters in Arizona, where Ted frequented the casinos. They shared a love of golf for many years. Ted was president of the Edison Club in 1976 and a longtime member of the Mohawk Golf Club.
Ted is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Lenore Rich Reinhard; daughter, Ann (Ken Koton) of Brooklyn; son, Stuart (Karen Lewis) of Romiley, U.K.; and their two children, who brought him so much joy, Esther and Noah. He is lovingly remembered by his sister, Sheila (Simi) Kruh and brother-in-law Daniel Kruh of East Brunswick, N.J. He will be dearly missed by his sisters-in-law, Brenda Allen of Cornwall-on-hudson, and Phyllis Rich (Michael) Weiser of Atlanta; and brother-in-law, Steven Rich of Albany. He will be remembered by his nieces and nephews and all their families: Kenneth (Kathy) Reinhard of Fort Worth, Texas, Steven (Susan) Reinhard of Raleigh, N.C., Deborah Bouck of San Francisco, Andrew (Mary) Kruh of Milltown, N.J., Julie Rabinowitz of Massachusetts, Jennifer (Web) Roberts of Atlanta, and Leah Rich (Jay Muthushankar) and David (Amber) Rich, both of Albany. He was predeceased by his brother and sister-in-law, Arnold and Lenore Reinhard; sister-in-law, Ruth Rich; niece, Ellin Reinhard Schott; and nephews, Hyam Rich and Ira Kruh.
Always honorable, humble and kind, Ted will be missed by all who knew and loved him. Private services will be held on Thursday, December 10.
Donations in his name may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org.
To leave a condolence message, please visit levinememorialchapel.com