Victor – August 18, 2018.
Survived by his loving wife, Sue; sons, Dr. Douglas David Reh (Julie), Thomas “Toby” David Reh (Deanna), Brian David Reh (Gayle); his 9 grandchildren, Isabel Reh, Laney Reh, Samuel David Reh, Madeline Reh, McKenna Reh, Kelan Reh, Nolan Reh, Adam David Reh and Anna Reh; and many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his parents, Gordon and Isabel Reh and his sister, Verna Henning.
David grew up in Orchard Park, NY. His father was a mechanic in the school bus garage and mother was a homemaker with the exception of her war efforts during WWII. David grew up adjacent to his grandfather’s farm, and worked his own fields growing crops by the age of 12.
David chose to attend Clarkson University with Industrial Distribution as his major. With hard work and determination, David received a full tuition scholarship and worked as a Resident Advisor to cover the cost of room and board in subsequent years.
After graduating from Clarkson, David worked at AT&T Long Lines which was followed by a US Army tour in Germany as a Captain in the Corps of Engineers. After his military service, he worked as a sales trainee at Gleason Works. David then attended the University of Rochester Graduate School of Business, now the Simon School.
After graduation in 1967, David joined a small manufacturing rep firm which he bought in 1971. He eventually transformed this enterprise into multiple successful businesses.
David is the Chairman of Gorbel, Inc. and former Chairman of Retrotech, Inc. He is also the founder and owner of Ravenwood Golf Club and former President of the Raytec Group and Hantek, Inc. David was a 2011 inductee into the Rochester Business Hall of Fame.
David and his wife Sue have been passionate advocates for higher education and this has been reflected in their involvement in many causes and the awards and honors received by David.
David served on the National Council for the Simon Business School and in 2012 was awarded their Distinguished Alumnus Award. In 2011 he established the Sue and David Reh Scholarship Fund which has supported 17 Simon School MBA students.
David was a recipient of the Clarkson University Golden Knight Award. In 2009 David endowed the Reh Center for Entrepreneurship at Clarkson University. He received an Honorary Doctorate in Science in May 2017 from Clarkson. In October of 2017, Clarkson furthered his legacy when their business school was named the David D. Reh School of Business.
David’s impact on the world has had no bounds as evidenced by his humble, servant leadership within numerous boards, local communities and countless individuals. His influence on all those he touched will have a lasting impact.
Calling hours Thursday August 23, 2018 from 3-7PM at the Richard H. Keenan Funeral Home, Egypt Location, 7501 Pittsford Palmyra Rd., Fairport. Funeral Service Friday 2PM at Asbury First United Methodist Church, 1050 East Ave., Rochester, NY 14607. In lieu of flowers please consider donations to the Victor Scholarship Program, Dollars for Scholars, 953 High St., Victor, NY 14564.
Comments
19 responses to “Reh, David D.”
David Reh had a profound and lasting impact on everyone who had the privilege to know him. He was a man of integrity and honor, with a keen intellect, a dry wit, a true talent for business and a passion for his family. David and Sue’s quiet philanthropy has had a significant and lasting positive impact on their community. He will be sorely missed. My husband, Lon and I extend our sincere condolences to Sue, Doug, Toby, Brian and their wives and children. You are all in our prayers.
It was truly an honor to know Dave, Sue and their wonderful family. Dave’s guidance and support for me was sincerely appreciated during my 10 years in office. Our sympathies and love to Sue and the entire family. Jack and Val Richter, Apache Junction, Arizona
My deepest sympathies to all the Reh’s.. David was a humanitarian and a role model for us all. He will be missed.
My deepest sympathies to all the Reh’s.. David was a humanitarian and a role model for us all. He will be missed.
There is and will continue to be a void in our lives and in the lives of many who knew and admired Dave. Sue, Doug, Julie, Toby, Deanna, Brian, Gayle and all of Dave and Sue’s beautiful grandchildren, our hearts and thoughts are with you. Dave was an inspiration to many of us and we will cherish our memories of him especially the glow he had at the naming of the School of Business. He may be physically gone from us but his name and spirit will live on at Clarkson University and with us personally.
It was truly a pleasure working with your husband, father, grandfather for over 30+ years. He will be deeply missed.
To Brian and the Reh extended family,
I am sad to hear of Dave’s passing. Knowing him all of these years through my association with Gorbel, I can say that he was a servant leader. For all of his successes, which he had many, he always showed humility. Every time I saw him he greeted me with a warm smile and firm handshake and I knew it was genuine. He will be missed. I expect, when he met God Saturday, God said “Well done my good and faithful servant”. May God Bless you and yours during this time of loss.
From the entire membership and staff at Cobblestone Creek Country Club our deepest condolences to the Reh family on the loss of one of our finest members. Mr, Reh graced our Club for many years and has always been (and will always be) family here at Cobblestone Creek. To Mrs. Reh and the entire family our thoughts and prayers are with you. The Club flag will remain at half staff throughout the week.
Cobblestone Creek Country Club.
My wife, Julie, and I were saddened today to learn of David’s passing. We have known he and Sue through an industry organization for a number of years. David’s warmth and personal interest in us, not to mention his life philosophy and humble yet impressive success as a business leader are the things we will remember most. He was always concerned with the wellbeing of others and had an impressive ability to articulate his views. We came to respect his fairness and compassion. When David spoke to an issue I always listened closely—and frequently came away with a broader and better perspective. We will miss David’s smile and friendship, and extend our deepest sympathies to Sue, his children and grandchildren. From our perspective, David Reh has left a wonderful legacy.
To the Reh family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Toby, Brian and Doug…You were blessed to have such a wonderful father.
He set an everlasting example to follow.
Sincerely,
Coach Tim Munn
Dear Sue, My heart goes out to you and your family..Your husband was a kind and loving man. The people he has touched will always remember him. I will keep all of you in my prayers. Love Marlene Cahill
I had the honor and pleasure of working with Dave for many years with the Ontario County IDA. He was kind, smart and had a great sense of humor. I will not forget the positive impact he had on me and all of those he interacted with at our company. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family. David – You will be missed greatly.
My sincerest condolences go out to the extended Reh family during this time of loss and sorrow. Brian , you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. God bless.
To Sue and family. My heartfelt condolences to all of you. I am greatly saddened to hear of David’s passing. I will be forever grateful to David for his friendship, generosity, and guidance in my early career. David has always been an inspiration to me on how to be hard working, humble, honest, and dedicated to life’s passions. He touched all of our lives in a very profound way. He will be greatly missed, but his impact on life will live forever. He has left you with an amazing legacy to carry on.
My condolences. It was truly an honor and a gift to work with such an incredible person.
My deepest sympathies Sue to you and family on Dave’s untimely passing. We had lost contact some years back with my moving to Florida but I knew he (and you) were active supporters of Clarkson. I was proud to be his classmate and fraternity brother all these years. Time makes us stewards of our mortality but it rewards us with good memories as well. I shall always remember the July 4th “reunions” at Skaneatles Lake especially with the kids as they grew up…all successful. It was a good time and place for all of us. My best wishes to you as you navigate this mournful time. Clarkson has lost a true ‘Golden Knight’. God Bless.
Dave’s life exemplifies how an ethical, ambitious entrepreneur in our free enterprise system can benefit countless others.
He was an excellent employer and with his family, a major, multi-faceted contributor to society.. He even took time to
stop and chat with me, just an old guy in the neighborhood of his business. Dave leaves the world a better place, and
can serve as a challenging example to us all.
can serve as a challenging example to us all’
I had tried to post this earlier Sue but I see that it did not. I was sorry to learn of Dave’s untimely passing as were many others I am sure. My sincere condolences to you and family of course.
I was and am proud to have been a classmate and fraternity brother of Dave’s. Obviously he (and you) and I go back a long way. We kind of lost contact after I moved to Florida but I knew Dave (and you) were strong supporters of Clarkson. Time makes us stewards of our mortality but it also gives us good memories. I shall always remember the July 4th weekend reunions at Skaneatles Lake…especially as all our kids growing up participated ….plus the get-togethers we otherwise had as well. I wish you God Speed as you navigate this mournful time. Clarkson has truly lost a ‘Golden Knight’. God Bless.
To the entire Reh Family, we are sorry to have missed the calling hours and service since we were out of town that week. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all….