Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home

TENANTS HARBOR - William J. Reinhardt, 86, died Sunday, September 25, 2011, at the Knox Center in Rockland following a long illness.
Born in Larchmont, New York, July 20, 1925, he was the son of William B. and Hilma Paulsen Reinhardt. Educated in local schools, he was a graduate of Larchmont High School. After completing early enlistment in the United States Army in 1942, he began studies at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
His education at that institution was interrupted when Mr. Reinhardt formally began in service to his country. After completing basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey, he was deployed to Europe. He served throughout WWII, with Patten's 3rd Army in France, Belgium and Germany. While sailing from Germany to the Pacific Theater aboard a troop transport ship, the war ended and all aboard that ship returned to the United States. For the remainder of his first enlistment, Mr. Reinhardt served as an M.P. aboard trains carrying wounded, returning soldiers across the United States. He concluded his active duty rising to the rank of Master Sergeant.
After returning from World War II military duty, he completed studies at Harvard, where he was active in many collegiate activities. One of these included playing tuba in the Harvard University Band and serving for a time, as drum major of that band. Having purchased what was then documented to be one of the two largest tubas in existence, upon his graduation from Harvard, he presented that instrument to the Harvard University Band. He was also a member of Harvard's "Hasty Pudding Club" and, while living in Cambridge, served on the call division of the Cambridge Fire Department and in the Cambridge Fire Department Band.
Upon discharge from his first enlistment, Mr. Reinhardt re-enlisted with the U. S. Army Reserve, and spent many years with that service. He took advantage of an opportunity and transferred from the Army Reserve, to the Maine National Guard, and after serving for many more years with the 195th Army National Guard Band out of Bangor, ultimately retired with over 30 years of service.
While in high school, he met a fellow student Jacqueline Shumaker. They reconnected following World War II and on August 13, 1955, were married at Second Baptist "Ridge" Church, Martinsville, in St. George. The couple made their home a brief time in Scarsdale, NY, before moving to Tenants Harbor in 1956. With his wife's father, Mr. Reinhardt built a new home where the Reinhardt children were raised and he resided the rest of his life.
Mr. Reinhardt worked more than 15 years as Vice-Administrator of Knox County General Hospital and for a brief time as Director of Personnel & Development at the then newly opened Penobscot Bay Medical Center in Rockport. He was instrumental in the fundraising effort for construction of that new hospital.
He later worked many years as a Deputy Sheriff / Dispatcher with Knox County Sheriff's Department until his retirement.
Long active in the St. George community, Mr. Reinhardt was a founding member of the St. George Volunteer Ambulance and for more than 50 years was an active member of the St. George Volunteer Firefighters and Ambulance Association. He served more than 40 years as Captain of the St. George Fire Department and when unable to fight fires any longer, served as a Fire Police member. He was a longtime member of the American Legion Kinney-Melquist Post No. 34, Tenants Harbor and a longtime member and Deacon of the Second Baptist Church, Martinsville, in St. George. For many years, he delivered Meals-On-Wheels in Tenants Harbor and for more than twenty years, side by side with his wife, volunteered at St. Bernard's Soup Kitchen.
With his wife, he enjoyed several trans-Atlantic shipboard crossings and European travels.
Pre-deceased by his wife in 2009 and a sister Alida Greenleaf, Mr. Reinhardt is survived by one daughter, Beth H. Reinhardt of Tenants Harbor; two sons, William S. Reinhardt and his wife Lola of Tenants Harbor, The Reverend Mark S. Reinhardt of Camden; two grandchildren Amelia C. and Philip S. Reinhardt; the mother of his grandchildren, Lisa Escorsio, all of Tenants Harbor, as well as several nieces and nephews.
Friends and relatives are invited to visit from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., Thursday, September 29, 2011, at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland. A private graveside service will be held at later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made the St. George Volunteer Firefighters and Ambulance Association, P.O.B. 249, Tenants Harbor, ME, 04841.