John Edward Reisert
John Edward Reisert, Ed. D. died peacefully at his home on October 16, 2016 in New Albany, Indiana at the age of 86.
John is survived by his wife Carolyn, his son John, his daughter Rebecca, four grandchildren (Courtney, Ian, Glenn, and Sophia), his great-grandson Gabriel, and his dog Sadie.
A native of Greenville, John graduated from New Albany High in 1948 and from Indiana University in 1953, combining his honeymoon with a Mexican travel/study trip to earn enough credits to let him graduate a year early. He earned his doctorate from IU in 1965. He taught at New Albany's Silver Street School, Indiana University-Bloomington, Indiana University Southeast, and in Saudi Arabia for ARAMCO. Administrative positons included Principal of Fairmont Elementary School; Vice Chancellor, Acting Chancellor, and Head of the Education Department at IUS; Floyd County Commissioner; Floyd County Police Commission Chair; and Floyd County Building Authority member. After retirement, he served as an Investigator for the Floyd County Prosecutor's Office. Other work included traveling the country as an administrator for President Johnson's War on Poverty and Head Start; Director of Teacher Education and Certification for the State of Indiana; Southern Indiana Congressional Service Academy Selection Committee Chair; North Central College Accreditation Association Committee Chair; and twenty-one years on the New Albany Police Merit Board. Honors include Eagle Scout, Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Young Man, New Albany High Hall of Fame, Sagamore of the Wabash, Honorary Kentucky Colonel, Phi Delta Kappa, Volunteer of the Year (Center for Women and Families), Volunteer of the Year (Friend for Life Cancer Support) as well as honors from other organizations including Rauch, Southern Seven Workforce Board, One Southern Indiana, KIPDA, Leadership Louisville, Floyd County Council for the Arts, Carnegie Center for Arts and History, and the New Albany Floyd County School Corporation. To honor John's service to the community, in 2007 the New Albany mayor proclaimed February 23 as John Reisert Day. In gratitude for his public service, the Caesar's Foundation established the yearly John Reisert Scholarship at IUS.
John loved traveling. In addition to multiple trips to Europe, he visited Asia, Africa, Mexico, Australia, Canada, Europe, and New Zealand. He was an accomplished and popular public speaker and gave commencement addresses at many universities.
A funeral is scheduled for at St. Mark's on Thursday at 10:00 AM with a private burial. There will be no visitation. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hosparus, Community Montessori, St. Mark's United Church of Christ, Beargrass Christian Church, or Friend for Life.