In Memoriam

Andrew Reis

January 9, 2021

Andrew Reis
in later years

Andrew Reis
1964 graduation

Andrew Reis died on December 2, 2020 in Perpignan, France, where he had been living for 15 years. The notification came from his son, Win Reis.

From our 1964 Class Book: Andy was from Cincinnati, OH, and majored in Mathematics (Ranking Scholar). He lived in Branford College. Andy was an avid duplicate bridge player and tutored at Dwight Hall.

Here is a remembrance of Andy written by his freshman-year friend Jon Wallman.

Remembrance of Andy Reis

by Jon Wallman ’64

I met Andy Reis at the very beginning of our freshman year. I can’t quite remember where exactly I met him — he was not my roommate, and did not live in the same entryway as I did. He didn’t even live in the same building (I was in Farnam). But I have a very distinct memory of walking with him in the Old Campus, talking about the math contest that was about to be held. This was during the very first week after we had all arrived on campus. I can remember telling him that I had to win because my father had won the same prize when he was a freshman. Andy responded “So did my father.” I certainly didn’t win. I hadn’t even taken an introduction to calculus in high school, let alone any other advanced type of math. I couldn’t even begin to solve at least half of the questions. I don’t think Andy won either.

Somehow, Andy and I found that we had a mutual interest in bridge. While I had no experience with duplicate bridge, Andy had lots of experience (he had already started to accumulate master points). We started playing together and entered a number of duplicate tournaments in the New Haven area. One time we even entered a tournament in Bridgeport, though how we got to Bridgeport and back I do not recall.

I think I frustrated Andy at the bridge table. I was not as good as he was, and I couldn’t quite always remember the details of our system for communication. As a result we never finished as well as either of us would have liked.

Andy and I were pretty close friends during freshman year. But not after that. I went off to Davenport and Andy went to Branford and started a Duplicate Bridge Club. I did not participate. It was years before I tried duplicate bridge again.

Andy and I went off to Harvard Business School right after graduation, but we were in different sections and seldom saw each other. And after graduation we had no contact. But I have fond memories of our friendship freshman year.