Richard in Mount Hope Cemetery To those who knew him as a speechwriter, a lecturer, a journalist and an author of books on architecture and history, it might come as a surprise to learn that English was not his first language. Richard Reisem was raised in a household where Norwegian was spoken exclusively—his father was pastor of the Norwegian Lutheran Church in Lake Mills, Iowa—and, as Richard often recalled, on his very first day of school, aged five, he was totally unprepared for the shock of being surrounded by people speaking another language. He ran home in tears.

It was a minor setback. And like all persons who learn a second language, he soon became proficient— to the point of being a stickler for proper English grammar for the rest of his long life.  He fondly remembered his high school English teacher, Miss Nettie Price, whose motto—often quoted— was “The Cultured Person is Never Bored.” He was the valedictorian of his graduating class in 1948.

At Iowa State University, which opened up a new world for him, he majored in Architecture, English, and Journalism. As editor of the Iowa State Daily newspaper, Richard Reisem came into his stride, writing articles at a frantic pace, often deep into the night, to meet the looming deadlines. It was the start of a work ethic that continued into his late years.

Iowa State University Yearbook

In 1955 he took a position with Eastman Kodak in Rochester. During his 31-year career at Kodak, he worked as a manager and producer of Presentations and Promotions, a role that included speechwriting for six of the company’s CEOs.

The civilised qualities of Rochester had great appeal for him. As a young man, he was often a guest at Charlotte Whitney Allen’s five o’clock cocktail gatherings at her house in Oliver Street, where he was appointed to mix the martinis to Mrs Allen’s specifications: a full bottle of iced gin was emptied of a single tablespoon of its contents; the space left over was topped with vermouth before being poured into chilled glasses.

Richard with his collection of paintings by Jack Harris, c. 1964

Upon retirement from Kodak in 1986, Richard embarked  upon what he called his Second Act: that of a freelance writer, a video producer/director, and, significantly, as an author of books covering diverse subjects, but mainly concerned with history and architecture.

His first publication, with photographer Frank Gillespie, was titled “Mount Hope: America’s First Municipal Victorian Cemetery’.

This was followed by a series of books published under the auspices of the Landmark Society of Western New York. Collaborating with the photographer Andy Olenick, the series included “200 Years of Rochester Architecture and Gardens” (1994), “Erie Canal Legacy” (2000) and “Historic New York” (2005). The pair also produced a very fine book on the architecture of Buffalo, New York, titled “Classic Buffalo”, published in 1999.

Richard was a member of the Rochester Preservation Board from 1974-1993, a trustee of the Landmark Society, and the founder of The Friends of Mount Hope Cemetery. He was deeply involved with the history of the cemetery, with its unique landscape, and with its “residents” as the buried are known. The monthly newspaper, Epitaph, was named by him and he was its editor in chief for many years. Richard compiled several guides to the the cemetery—the last,”Buried Treasures of Mount Hope Cemetery—A Pictorial Field Guide”, is considered the definitive historical companion to that very special place.

In the private realm, Richard’ passions revolved around art and music. An avid art collector, he encouraged and fostered the careers of many artists and photographers in the region. As to classical music, it was one of life’s essentials; and when he wasn’t attending concerts or recitals, he was listening at home to Mahler or Richard Strauss, immersed in every note. At the hospital on the second to last day of his life, he was played, via headset, the trio from the last act of Strauss’s “Der Rosenkavelier”— a piece that never failed to transport him.

Richard O. Reisem April 15, 1930—July 6, 2026.

J.J.

Services are being held privately.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Richard Reisem’s name to The Landmark Society of Western New York or The Friends of Mount Hope Cemetery