Marilyn Held Reiner
Pearl River High School Biology Teacher

Marilyn Reiner, esteemed, nationally recognized, beloved biology teacher at Pearl River High School for 33 years, mentor, devoted mother and wife, died suddenly on November 11th, 2004 from septic shock brought on by an attack of E. Coli bacteria. During her tenure at Pearl River High School, ending in 2000, Mrs. Reiner was named Outstanding Biology Teacher at both the state and national level by the National Association of Biology Teachers.
She was a New York State Awardee of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching and was presented with a citation for her achievements in science education by the New York State Senate. She founded a chapter of the New York State Science Honor Society at Pearl River High School to pay tribute to science students of high achievement, and she pioneered the school’s first Advanced Placement Biology course. She brought science to the community, developing a science lecture series--open to both the school’s student body and the Pearl River
community at large--and visited by noted speakers including Nobel Prize-winning scientists and a space-traveled NASA astronaut.
Up until the time of her death, she was President of the New York State Science Honor Society, Chairperson of the Westchester Section of the Science Teachers Association of New York State, and President of the Alpha Eta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, an international society of women educators devoted to promoting excellence in teaching. She was an adjunct professor of biology for Syracuse University and was listed in the Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.
Marilyn Reiner was not only a profoundly caring teacher to her students, a doting mother to her children, and a loving wife to her husband, she was also their best friend. With the assistance of her longtime colleague and friend, earth science teacher Jordan Makower, and with unanimous approval of the School Board, the Marilyn Reiner Memorial Scholarship Award for the Advancement of the Life Sciences and Medical Arts has been established at Pearl River High School to assist financially disadvantaged college-bound students committed to using biology to benefit his or her fellow man through nursing, doctoring, teaching, or through biological
and/or medical research.
Mrs. Reiner is survived by her adoring children, Melinda (a podiatric surgeon specializing in sports medicine, trauma, and reconstructive surgery), Harrison (a CBS-TV screenplay analyst and instructor of screenwriting at U.C.L.A.’s School of Film and Television), and Brian (a mathematician and biochemist); nephews Howard Held (an executive for AAA of New Jersey), Rick Held (a computer engineer), and Corey Held (a financial advisor); brother Robert Held (a senior chemist for Dupont); and devoted husband Jerry (a retired civil engineer).
 

“Although more than 30 years ago and 2,000 miles removed from Pearl River, I have the most vivid and fond memories of Mrs. Reiner.  I remember the first time I met her as if it were yesterday.  Like hundreds of students before me, I watched in awe when this big-haired, short-skirted, styletto-shoed woman in her semi-tinted glasses strutted across the classroom and, in her inimitable voice just above a whisper, asked, “What is this stuff of life?”  I was captivated by the web of biology that she wove, so enthralled that I made it my life’s work.  Who would have thought that the tearful tenth grader fleeing the lab because the frog on her dissection tray had not been pithed quite correctly would ultimately choose a career operating on babies?  I suspect that the roots of this decision had much to do with my amazing biology teacher, Marilyn Reiner.  For her teaching and guidance, I am forever grateful.  The world is a less bright place without her and certainly the academic galaxy of Pearl River High School has lost one of its shining stars.”        
                                            Cathy Anne Burnweit, M.D., Pediatric Surgeon/Miami Children’s Hospital (Class of 1973)
           
“The lessons we learned from Mrs. Reiner transcend scientific discipline: integrity, pride, care in whatever we put our
names to, and the value in assisting others.”
          Clare Wilde, Matriculant for the Ph.D. in Early Christian-Muslim Relations/Catholic University (Class of 1992)

“She was the phenomenal Mrs. Reiner.”  My friends and I looked forward to class because she put so much into it and taught with such originality.  She expected a lot from us and she gave ten times as much in the pursuit.  She was pretty, stylish, terrifically intelligent, committed, energetic, motivated, and interested.  She was a teacher in the highest sense of the word, an outstanding teacher--in her own category.  I still remember the things she taught me.  Her qualities are still an inspiration to me, ones that will bring anything to flower.”
                                                                                                   Susan Willis-Powers, Artisan and Mom (Class of 1973)
           
“I can hardly imagine how many lives Mrs. Reiner touched over the years, how many people pushed themselves because she pushed them as their teacher.  She set the bar very high for every one of her students, and every one of them is better for it.  She instilled in them an excitement for learning.  My daughter’s biology teacher didn’t stand a chance in my eyes because of the standard to which I had been taught by Mrs. Reiner.  She was by far the most incredible and effective teacher from whom I have ever had the pleasure of learning.  She was more, though.  She was also a counselor and a dear friend.  I can still see her in her classroom, filling the board with the most complete notes I have ever seen.  When I heard of her passing, I just couldn’t believe it.  She died much too young.”
                                                                      John Nozell, Chief Financial Officer/Advion BioSciences (Class of 1977)

“I remember Mrs. Reiner characterizing her students as “sponges.”  She talked about how much she enjoyed her students’ soaking up what they learned.  She treated us all as capable and mature students, whether we acted that way or not.  She adored and admired us, all of us, for our great potential as critical thinkers and creative doers, as well as for our typical teenage qualities.  She readied us to become exceptional individuals, if not exceptional scientists and nurses and physicians, while remaining respectful of the individuality each of us brought to class.  We were the beneficiaries of her indefatigable desire to help us become our best academic selves.  The words “no,” “not possible”, “we can’t afford it”, were not in her vocabulary.  Marilyn Reiner’s students were bestowed the gift of being taught by one of this country’s pre-eminent educators.  I loved her more than any other teacher.  It was easy to do.  There has never been as magnificent a teacher or professor like her, before or since.”
                Stacy Saetta, J.D., Associate Research Scientist/Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (Class of 1977)

“For anyone who never had the honor of learning from Mrs. Reiner, you truly missed out.  She was so dedicated to her students and loved to teach.  She expected us to try as hard as we could, and that never came close to how hard she worked for us.  Everything she did was for her students’ best interest.  She organized an after school lecture series and wouldn’t settle for anything but the best speakers, even getting Nobel Laureates to come and speak to us.  The lessons Mrs. Reiner taught me far surpassed any information that could be found in a textbook.  She helped me become a better and more successful student and to shape my future.  She helped everyone realize their potential and to never accept good but go for the best.  I have never had another teacher so dedicated to her students and so driven for their success.  I hope she knows how much she really meant to everyone and how many lives she touched.”
                         Eric Messina, Matriculant for the M.A. in Physiology/New York Medical College (Class of 1999)
“Years after graduating, I visited school with my husband, and I remember seeing in Mrs. Reiner’s eyes not only warm
remembrance, but a slight twinkle at the prospect of what kind of student our daughter might become.  She shared with every student her passion for science, and left many with an
enthusiasm for learning that will last a lifetime.  Marilyn Reiner had the most noble job, and she did it each day with zeal and aplomb.”
 Jennie Critchlow Crabbe (Class of 1989)
                                     Copy Editor/St. Louis Post-Dispatch

“Farewell Mrs. Reiner, we are lucky to have known you.  We will never forget your spirit.”
                                     Steve Crabbe (Class of 1988)                          UPS Air Supervisor/Lambert Field, St. Louis
 

Mrs. Reiner pictured above in her Biology Department office, circa 1974.   Photo, provided by the Reiner family, is inscribed on its reverse side, “Mrs. Reiner, have a nice summer.  Lynne Robinson and Brenda Angyal, Class of ‘74.