A Renaissance Man

EARLVILLE, NY – Kenneth Reymers was born in Mineola NY in 1933, the son of Kenneth and Dorothy Reymers. He spent his formative years on Long Island when it was still farm country, graduating from Bay Shore High School in 1950. After working for two years, he began a long dreamed of education at what was then the College of Forestry at Syracuse, NY (now the College of Environmental Science and Forestry). This endeavor was interrupted by two years of service in the U.S. Army with service in Korea. He then finished his education at Syracuse, earning a B.S and then an M.S. in forest ecology, during which time he began a teaching career while still a graduate student. As a part of his schooling, he spent a summer in Germany to study their forestry system, teaching himself rudimentary German to do this.
He then spent a year as a science teacher in Oxford High School in 1961-62. But having desired to be a forester, he took a job with the NY State Department of Conservation, first in the Poughkeepsie office, then in Sherburne, NY. But he finally decided he was a teacher after all, and in 1966-67 began a 25-year career as a life science and biology teacher in the Sherburne-Earlville Central School system, winning the hearts and minds of many students.
During that period, he attended graduate classes at SUNY Oneonta, SUNY Oswego and Hope College, MI, continually adding to his knowledge of biology. In addition, he was awarded scholarships for two National Science Foundation summer-long programs at Colgate University. He also served two summers on the Rogers Environmental Education Center as a staff member, teaching ecology to teachers from all over the state in week-long sessions.
At the age of 45, he decided to try his skills at painting and chose to work with watercolors because he “didn’t like the smell of turpentine”. His skill and reputation grew with time and he was invited to be a member of the Central New York Watercolor Society. His paintings were exhibited and sold in many galleries, museums and shows, including the National Watercolor Exhibit in Old Forge, NY, the Everson Museum in Syracuse, NY, the Earlville Opera House Gallery in Earlville, NY, and the Albany State Museum, in Albany, NY. His favorite outdoor art show was always “Colorscape,” in Norwich, NY, where he rekindled friendships with many people he knew.
In his “spare time” he was a gardener with an extensive vegetable garden and several smaller flower gardens; a talented woodworker, cabinet maker, and house designer and renovator; a skilled computer worker and publisher of newsletters for the Central NY Watercolor Society and CWEG (Chenango Water Exercise Group); and a strategist at chess games, a guitar player, and a very good golfer. He never lost his love for the woods and the outdoors and spent much time hunting and fishing. Wild duck for the family’s Thanksgiving was the ultimate delight, along with all the home-grown side dishes. He also liked to try his hand at cooking, especially enjoying Chinese dishes. And last but by no means least, he was a loving and much loved husband and father. He made a good home and family. He was, indeed, a true Renaissance Man.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Sally Reymers of Earlville, NY; his daughter, Ingrid Reymers and partner John Munch of Colden, NY; son David Reymers of Sunnyvale, CA, and friend Nina Chun of Todos Santos, Baja, Mexico; and son Kurt Reymers and wife Sue Kern Reymers (and grand-dog Heidi) of Poolville, NY.
There will be an Open House in celebration of his life at his home at 64 West Main St., Earlville, NY, on Saturday, April 23 from 12 -5 p.m. and Sunday, April 24 from 1 – 4 p.m.
Please consider donations In Ken’s Memory to: Friends of Bassett, Hospice, Sherburne Library or the Earlville Free Library.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 3 Preston St., Earlville, NY.
To send a condolence and sign the Book of Memories online go to www.burgessandtedescofuneralhomes.com