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A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, March 13, in Colton Chapel for former trustee Jeanette F. Reibman, who died yesterday at age 90.
She is survived by three sons, including James E. Reibman, a part-time faculty member at Lafayette; attorney Joseph M. Reibman of Allentown; and Lehigh County Judge Edward D. Reibman of Emmaus; and four grandchildren: Rachel, Abigail, Samuel and Sarah. She was predeceased by her husband of 62 years, attorney Nathan L. Reibman, in August 2005 and four brothers.
Links to stories in the Lehigh Valley press: The Express-Times (“Valley Loses Political Legend”; editorial “Jeanette Reibman Elevated Education”); The Morning Call (“Political Pioneer Jeanette Reibman Dies”).
Reibman was a Pennsylvania State Senator from 1966 until retiring in 1994. Prior to that she was in private practice in Fort Wayne; an attorney for the U.S. War Department, Washington, 1940-42; on the U.S. War Production Board from 1942-44; and a member of the House of Representatives, 1956-66. While in the Senate she was chair of the Committee of Education 1971-81, minority chair 1981-90, and majority caucus administrator from 1992-94.
She received her AB from Hunter College in 1937 and law degree from Indiana University in 1940. Lafayette awarded her an honorary LLD in 1969. She also received honorary degrees from Lehigh University, Wilson College, Cedar Crest College, and Moravian College.
She was accepted into the Bar in 1940 and received U.S. Supreme Court Certification in 1944.
Reibman was a member of the Education Commission of the States, Sigma Delta Tau, Delta Kappa Gamma, Phi Delta Kappa, and Order of the Eastern Star. She was a member of Temple Covenant of Peace, Easton and Hadassah (receiving the Myrtle Wreath Award in 1976).
She received the Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania Award and medal from the governor of Pennsylvania in 1968. An administration building on the campus of Stroudsburg University was named after her in 1972, as was as the Early Childhood Learning Center at Northampton Community College in 1992. She received a Public Service Award from Pennsylvania Psychological Association in 1977 and the Jerusalem City of Peace Award from the Government of Israel in 1977. She was named to the Hunter College Alumni Hall of Fame in 1974 and named an Indiana University Alumni Fellow in 1993.
She was a board member of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, Pennsylvania Council on Arts, and Camphill Schools. She was a member of the board of the former Forks of the Delaware United Fund, Northampton County Family Counseling Service, Lehigh Valley Hospital Planning Commission, Delaware Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America (receiving a Distinguished Citizen Award from the Minsi Trails Council), Pennsylvania Library Association, and St. Luke’s Hospital. She served on the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition.
Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is in charge of arrangements.
Contributions may be made to Temple Covenant of Peace, Easton, or to Lafayette, c/o the development office.