GUILDERLAND – Thomas Martin Reimer passed away on Sunday, April 2nd, 2023 at home surrounded by family in Guilderland, New York. Inspired by the Japanese poet Basho, he met death “gracefully.”
He was born October 11th, 1956 in New York City, as the oldest child of chemical engineer Ulrich Max Reimer and Waltraut Martha b. Alexy. His parents had at that time moved from Germany. After two years in Minnesota, the family returned to Europe. Thomas grew up mostly in Brussels, Belgium. After graduating from the German School of Brussels in 1977, he was drafted and did his 15-month military service in the Bundeswehr. Afterwards, he took care of his ailing grandmother. After her death in 1982 he visited the United States and met Professor Joanna Kirkpatrick, worked as her assistant, and remained friends until she died in 2017. She influenced his life for the good. He moved to Albany in 1985, where he met his wife Yayin Chu-Reimer, and the couple married in October 1988. They had two sons, Erich and Friedrich. He graduated from Regents’ College, then obtained two masters’ degrees from SUNY Albany, one in Library Science and the other in History, and a PhD in History from Syracuse University. After a variety of teaching jobs, he became an Associate of Occupational Education with the New York State Education Department, reviewing curriculum for the Bureau of Proprietary School Supervision. He loved his work and his team. Diagnosed with diabetes in July 2020, and pancreatic cancer in September 2021, he retired in January 2022.
Thomas enjoyed history, especially of his mother’s group, the Carpathian Germans from Slovakia, and local German-American history. Believing strongly in letting people find their own history, he was active in creating research guides for these two subjects both in print and online. He enjoyed socializing, and was happiest enjoying good chats with friends over a bottle of wine. He loved gardening and volunteering in general. In January 2021, he joined the Albany County Medical Reserve Corps and participated in the “flow” team in nine sessions helping to get people vaccinated against COVID. He loved hiking. He was especially happy to have walked the 480-mile Camino de Santiago (Frances) in October 2018/May 2019, and then again in May 2022, after being diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, 75 miles on the Camino Portuguese with his two brothers.
His parents, uncle, and aunts, predeceased him in Germany. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Yayin Chu-Reimer, and their two children, Erich Reimer and Friedrich Reimer, all of whom brought joy to his life, as well as his two brothers in Brussels, Klaus Reimer (with son Max, and Coline, the daughter from his late companion Paule); Peter Reimer (with companion Lillian Calaca da Silva and daughter Selena); his cousins in Germany and their families, and many other relatives, and many friends, notably Jean Witkowski, from school, and in Albany MaryBeth Sullivan, Tina Martinez and Melissa Lurie.
Private services will be held, and he will be cremated through Hans Funeral Home in Albany. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN). To leave a message of condolence for the family, please visit www.HansFuneralHome.com .
Betty Zhou
Dear Yayin, Erich and Friedrich,
Could not believe this to be true because I still hear his voice and see his face. Maybe he just went to a place where he will no longer suffer from the illness.
Jill Phillips & Scott Dingmon
Scott and I became friends with Thomas about 5 years ago and we will always feel blessed to have known him. He stared at this disease and death so bravely. Much love from us to his family and friends who will miss him so much. RIP Thomas. Thank you for the many memories.
Lisa Tracy
You are a kind and gentle soul who will be sorely missed.
Deborah DiMauro
Thomas brought so much joy and happiness to so many people. He will be sorely missed, but I will always remember his amazing spirit.
Lori Alexy Peterson
Extending my condolences to the family. Thomas knew my grandfather, Erwin Alexy, and we had communicated through the years. I am fortunate to have known Thomas. A kind and thoughtful man. Sending love and prayers.
Jackie pouliott
Thomas was a good friend and we shared happy times. He is no longer suffering and is at peace. May God be with him and all his family.
Jill Losee
Thomas was a rare person and a precious Friend. Will miss you and your smile always… <3
THE BEAUTY OF YOUR SMILE
2/2/2022 (Jill Losee)
Your hug is like no other
That I've found upon this Earth
For your love reaches farther
Then your arms around my girth.
There is a warmth within
That comes from you alone,
And that twinkle in your eye,
More real with love and caring
Than most will even find.
You're real beyond all measure
Tis what I love the most
Every time I see you.
So I offer you this toast…
May heaven be kind and heal you
For that warmth we need on earth,
May you stay and warm our hearts,
But if you leave us still we'll see
Your smile in stars above.
Kayla
My feels condolences. Thomas was a very sweet gentleman. I was very happy to have made his acquaintance. He brought great happiness to his friend, Tina, and I knew he was loved and cared for by the way she talked about him.
Darren
Very saddened to hear, but Thomas lives strong in my memory.
Alicia L. Hyndman
Thomas was a dear colleague whose appetite for food, life, and his two sons were tremendous influences. I will miss the encouragement & support he always gave me. May he rest in peace.
Diana Nicolaescu
Rest in peace dear Thomas! -your friend from Albany and in Belgium
Ed Kramer
I always enjoyed working with Thomas. He never had a bad word to say about anyone. I admired his intelligence and his sense of humor and I’ll never forget him. Rest in peace.
Ying Wang
We are deeply saddened and heartbroken for the loss of Thomas. As long-time family friends, we deeply cherish our memories of Thomas. He was such a kind and intelligent person. He will be truly missed. We lost a great friend, but the heavens received a beautiful star. Sincere condolences to the bereaved family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Dan Nicolaescu
My condolences to the family. I loved talking to Thomas about history, travel and other topics he was an expert in … learned a lot from him. Rest in peace, traveler!
Rosemary Alexy Golick
Thomas was an amazing person. We spoke many times about our families and the history. We both have ALEXY family and made me feel even closer and because of him my sister and I went to several of the gatherings. He will be missed.
Jean Witkowski
Ich hatt einen Kameraden, einen bessren findst Du nicht…..
With profound sadness, I learned about the departure of my comrade Thomas from this world.
The fact that we sat in school in Brussels on the same bench, where he helped me cheating during examinations, and were in regular contact until present, says it all….
My thoughts and feelings are with the family, notably Friedrich, with whom i had long and interesting conversations.
Farewell, my dear friend!
Jean (“Jenne”) Witkowski
Frankfurt / Germany
Mechthild and uncle Hans
So you go now, we let you go. May you not lose sight of the path. So you go now, we’re looking after you. May you always see the light on the horizon. So you go now, we are with you. May you hear someone calling you. So go now, our love will not leave you. May you feel that you are not alone. So go now, our wishes are with you. May you know that someone is welcoming you. So you go now, our hope surrounds you. May you realise that the new land is your eternal home. So you go now, we let you go.
(Irish blessing)
Hans and I, we are saddened about the death of his nephew / my cousin and very sad that we live so far away, that we cannot be present at his funeral, but our thoughts are with you.
Alice Christ
Our deepest sympathy . Enjoyed our visits and getting to meet all of you . Followed his posts on Facebook and saw how courageously he fought through his diagnosis. May he rest in peace now !
Sincerely, Alice (distant cousin) and the Alexy- Hentschel families
Hannelore Billowitz
Thomas, you will be missed, and we appreciate all of your contributions over the many years to the KDL. Many good memories of a kind, gentle soul. Condolences to the family and his loved ones. Ruhe in Frieden. The Fakundiny family.
Tina Alexy & Jean and Andrea Berthoud
The most beautiful thing a person can leave behind it’s a smile on the face of those who think of him.
(Theodor Fontane )
Even though we are very sad today, there are many remembrances of you that make us smile. In thoughts with you, especially today. Jean, Tina and Andrea and Jean-Louis
Thomas Alexy
Dear Thomas,
with admiration I had followed in recent months, with how much tenacity you have wrested beautiful moments from life despite your serious illness, sought encounters with family and friends, and suggested and prepared the family trip to Slovakia. Especially with the burden of the serious illness, I found it most admirable that you did not give up your love for life, for your family and friends – and for good food. In the end, you were unable to beat the disease, but the memories of you live on in our hearts.
I am very saddened to bid you my farewell today, Thomas.
All my love and respect to your wife, your sons and your brothers.
Your Cousin Thomas and family
Ruth Singer
Thomas was a wonderful colleague and a very special person. He will be missed by all who had the good fortune of knowing him. My sincerest sympathy to the whole family. He will forever be remembered as a kind, thoughtful, intelligent and funny guy.
Ruth Singer
Jerry McAvoy
My condolences to the family of Thomas Reimer. I was a colleague of Thomas. The last time we met was in April 2022 at a retirement party in New York City. Despite his illness he traveled to the party from Albany and displayed the same sharp wit, good spirits and energy I had known of him over the years.
It was good to see him again. He will be missed. Rest in peace.
Christopher Locovare
Our school would not exist, if it wasn’t for this kind and considerate man.
May he rest in peace.
James Bruce
My deepest sympathies and condolences to the family of Dr. Thomas Reimer, formerly of NYS Education Dept. /BPSS. I had the good fortune to be guided by him over many (20-odd) years as a career school director in the arcane art of curriculum design, submission and eventual approval. By that I mean that he was always ready to offer constructive criticism, often witty and sometimes sardonic, and he usually okayed what he found worthy. He wrote most of the curriculum guidance that is still on the Bureau’s website. I last saw him in person at a NYS Career Coalition conference on Long Island, perhaps 6 years ago. We were both alumni of Syracuse University as well. He will be missed.
Elisa Bachrow Hinken
Dr. Reimer was very fair and helpful over the last 20 years working at BPSS. He worked with narrow but important regulations, endearing his point of view in a way where you could “see what he saw” in everything. I appreciated all of his perspectives. Condolences and hugs to his family.
Elisa Hinken
Betty Vieira
Dr. Reimer was a great inspiration to our own family of professionals. Always quick to share his knowledge, his hope for the development of forward thinking curricula and of course his constant support and fun stories. Love and prayers to you and your family.