 
Senate Resolution No. 3280
 
BY: Senator MAYER
 
        MOURNING  the  death  of John William Reavis, Jr.,
        distinguished citizen  and  devoted  member  of  his
        community
 
  WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens  of  the  State  of  New York whose lifework and civic endeavor
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great
State of New York; and
 
  WHEREAS, John William Reavis, Jr. of Port Chester, New York died  on
Monday, June 29, 2020, at the age of 84; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Born  in Nyack, New York, on October 30, 1935, to John and
Frances (Hines) Reavis, Sr., John William Reavis, Jr. was the oldest  of
11 children and attended Nyack Schools, graduating in June of 1953; and
 
  WHEREAS,  In  1954, John William Reavis, Jr. furthered his education
at New York Pace  College,  later  transferring  to  Fayetteville  State
Teachers College in North Carolina on a baseball scholarship; and
 
  WHEREAS, It was at Fayetteville State where John William Reavis, Jr.
began  his love of service to his community as a member of Omega Psi Phi
Fraternity Inc.; he graduated cum  laude  with  a  Bachelor  of  Science
degree in Elementary Education in 1959; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Furthermore,  he was honored by Fayetteville State Hall of
Fame in  2000,  for  his  extraordinary  work  as  the  Manager  of  the
Basketball and Baseball teams; and
 
  WHEREAS, Spending his life in the service of Omega with his focus on
improving the quality of life in his community, John William Reavis, Jr.
lived   by   Omega's   cardinal   Principles  of  Manhood,  Scholarship,
Perseverance and Uplift; and
 
  WHEREAS, John William Reavis, Jr. began his  illustrious  career  in
education  teaching  fifth  grade  in  Newburgh, New York; he went on to
serve as an elementary guidance counselor, adult educational instructor,
special  programs  coordinator,   assistant   principal,   and   finally
principal; and
 
  WHEREAS, John William Reavis, Jr. and the former Catherine Elizabeth
Smith  were  united  in marriage in 1960, and together they raised three
children, Dawn, John William III, and Timothy Prescott; and
 
  WHEREAS, During this time, John William Reavis,  Jr.  went  back  to
school  at  NYU  to  earn his master's degree in Guidance, graduating in
1965; and
 
  WHEREAS, While in Newburgh, John William  Reavis,  Jr.  worked  with
community  organizations  and  Omega  Psi Phi to obtain scholarships for
young  African  American  students  to  attend  college;  he  was  later
recognized for this important work; and
 
  WHEREAS,  In 1969, John William Reavis, Jr. accepted a role with the
State University of New York (SUNY) Central  Administration  in  Albany,
New  York,  to  help establish the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP)
for all the universities, colleges, and  community  colleges  throughout
the state; and
 
  WHEREAS,  A  true  asset  to his community, John William Reavis, Jr.
went on to  serve  in  many  additional  capacities,  including  as  EOP
Manager,   evening  program  coordinator,  Affirmative  Action  Officer,
English and English as a Second  Language  professor,  and  lastly,  EOP
University Dean at SUNY Farmingdale, the esteemed position from which he
retired in 1990; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Upon  his  retirement  from SUNY Farmingdale, John William
Reavis,  Jr.  accepted  a  position  as  Executive  Director  at  Carver
Community  Center  in  Port  Chester,  New  York,  where  he oversaw the
community center expansion and building  renovation  while  establishing
many new programs; and
 
  WHEREAS,  In  August  of  1997,  John  William Reavis, Jr. wed Doris
Bailey, and the two became a beacon of  influence  and  progress  within
Port  Chester  Village  on  issues  for  health,  housing,  immigration,
juvenile justice, and youth employment; and
 
  WHEREAS, Predeceased by his parents, John and  Frances;  stepfather,
Jonnie;  three  sisters,  Barbara  Ann,  Irene,  and  Sheri;  and  three
brothers, Ronald, Marc and Larry; John William Reavis, Jr.  is  survived
by his wife Doris; three children, Dawn (Terry), John W. (Alexandra) and
Prescott  (Kai);  three  sisters,  Linda  (Raymond),  Diane (Sixto), and
Paulette  (Peter);  one  brother,  Tony;  four  grandchildren;  and  two
great-grandsons; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Armed  with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, John William Reavis, Jr. leaves behind a legacy  which  will
long  endure  the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory
to all he served and befriended; now, therefore, be it
 
  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
mourn  the  death of John William Reavis, Jr., distinguished citizen and
devoted member of his community; and be it further
 
  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to the family of John William Reavis, Jr.
John William Reavis, Jr. - Mourning death

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