Joseph Reising

5/21/2022

Joseph Paul Reising, 75, of Elbow Cay, Bahamas, and Old Saybrook, CT, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 21, 2022 at the Connecticut Hospice in Branford, CT, after a brief illness, surrounded by his family. He was the loving husband of Ellen Ryan Reising, and they were to celebrate their 53rd anniversary three days after he passed.

He was born June 9, 1946 in New Haven, CT and was the son of the late Robert and Gloria DeMichael Reising.

While serving in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, Joe started his career at Pratt & Whitney as a tool and die maker; but wanted to turn his hobby as a car enthusiast into a career. In 1970, with Ellen’s support, he opened Reising’s Getty; and several years later, moved down the road to a Texaco station they called Reising’s Garage in North Haven, CT.

Joe’s outgoing personality, storytelling, strong work ethic and commitment to his community, which included the North Haven Volunteer Fire Department, created a wide network of associates, customers and friends, as well as endless stories that were exciting, funny and probably heavily embellished.

In 1987, he sold his automotive business and the family moved to Old Saybrook to live closer to the water. In Old Saybrook, Joe spent many years on the Chalker Beach Improvement Association board as well as the Old Saybrook Zoning Board of Appeals. He also started a maintenance and construction business that provided plenty more material for another several chapters of exciting, funny and probably embellished stories that were the source of lifelong laughs.

In the early 1990s, in search of warmer winters, Joe and Ellen started their next chapter and moved to Vero Beach, FL. Joe worked in maintenance at Windsor in Vero Beach for several years, and once again started his own business that thrived until his retirement in 2015.

Upon his “retirement,” Joe and Ellen moved to Elbow Cay, Bahamas for a community and lifestyle that they both loved. Elbow Cay was a source of endless relaxation, a wonderful community and the realization of a lifelong dream. In Elbow Cay, Joe became very passionate about preserving Elbow Cay history and in particular, the Elbow Reef Light Station, where he volunteered his time.

In addition to his wife Ellen, he was a devoted father and grandfather who leaves behind his two children, Thomas and his wife Rebecca of Killingworth, CT and Christine Anderson and her husband Jeffrey of Cheshire, CT; and six grandchildren, Adelina, Ashton, Aiden, and Abel Anderson, and Grayson and Lincoln Reising.

Joe is survived by his twin sister, Karen, and her husband, James Evans of Greensboro, NC; sisterin-law, Sharon Reising of Goshen, CT; and was predeceased by his two brothers, David K. Reising and Gary R. Reising; and sister-in-law, Cyndi Reising.

Joe’s family will be having a celebration of his life later in 2022, date to be determined. Please contact a family member if you would like to attend and they will make sure you are included.

In lieu of flowers, to honor Joe’s memory, please consider a donation to the Elbow Reef Lighthouse Society: https://togetherbahamas.com/campaign/124/ joes-lighthouse-legacy