CARMEL – Torrential downpours greeted hundreds of mourners Tuesday who gathered outside St. James Church in Carmel to pay their respects to the family of long-time Putnam County Judge and Acting State Supreme Court Justice James Reitz who died suddenly Friday while conducting court at the Putnam Courthouse.
Reitz, 57, was administering over a family court matter when he suffered a fatal heart attack.
The death was felt countywide since Reitz, a lifelong resident of Putnam and the county’s most popular vote-getter was involved in a wide variety of activities and causes. The shock of the popular judge’s passing reverberated almost instantaneously throughout the region.
Reitz’ respect and popularity was evident 24 hours before the funeral mass, when an estimated 5,000 attended his wake at the Bureau of Emergency Services Training and Operations Center in Carmel.
County Executive MaryEllen Odell, who has known Reitz since childhood, described the judge as a “respected leader. Jim pioneered the well respected Drug Treatment Court which saved dozens of lives and families over the years. He took the court to a higher level allowing many adults to remain jail-free while curing their illness. Judge Reitz raised the bar for Drug Court providing opportunities to those who fallen prey to addiction.”
At the funeral mass, the judge’s twin brother Tommy, thanked Putnam County for “rising to the occasion and for your love and emotion brought to our family. Jim loved Putnam County and Putnam loved Judge Jim Reitz.”
Tom asked his mother to stand. “Mom, this is all because of you,” he said to which the mourners rose to their feet and gave the grieving mother an ovation.
Tom Reitz also singled out Capt. James Babcock, a childhood friend of the judge, who was assigned by Sheriff Robert Langley to head the detail surrounding the ceremonies following the death. “Our family will always be indebted to you and your men,” he said.
Reitz requested the entire congregation to rise to its feet. “Give each other a hug. Love each another. Make our county a better place in my brother’s name.”
Joseph DeMarzo, the county’s deputy director of Mental Health and Social Services, told the mourners that he had known the judge for a “long time. Unfortunately, it was not long enough. Jim was always volunteering be it with the Mahopac Falls FD, Rotary or countless other organizations. His credo was ‘Service above Self,’ the motto of Rotary International. Besides his mom, brothers and wife Barbara along with his children and grandchildren, Jim loved Treatment Court and his successes saved many lives over the years.”
DeMarzo recalled Reitz as a man who “truly made a difference because he did it his way. Jim will always be remembered for his kindness and for making everyone feel special. He will be missed but we can all honor his memory by our actions and words.”
DeMarzo forecast “when it is our time to be called to heaven, Jim will be waiting at the Pearly Gates with a handshake, pat on the back and his famous line: ‘Let me know what you need!’”
Barbara Reitz also thanked the mourners for everything. “Jim was a role model for everyone, kind yet firm. He accomplished so much and did so much for others. If you were trying to measure Jim’s heart you could start with the outpouring of love he had for his community and then by the measure for which he gave love to his family. Jim was our pillar of strength.”
In his homily, Msgr. Anthony Marchitelli preached about funeral services which he said “always bring fear and wonder. What will happen to me? As long as a person is remembered, he or she is alive. Stories will be told and one’s greatness will be relived. Judge Reitz touched many lives. His memories will last forever; that will help ease the pain. We celebrate not a life that was but a life that is. Fear, pain and doubt are washed away at death because Jim is in eternal life.”
In addition to Barbara, the judge is survived by his children Alyssa, Jaime, and Michael. He is also survived by his six grandchildren, his mother, brothers David and Thomas and a niece and nephew.
Judge Reitz was laid to rest at Raymond Hill Cemetery.
