Honor John Reavis, Jr.

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.