Fern Reinstein and Family

In memoriam of Dr. Jesse Reinstein, his wife Fern, and his children created this scholarship to help future generations of chemistry students and ensure UW-Platteville students find the same passion for chemistry as Jesse had.

Dr. Jesse Reinstein committed his life to higher education. He graduated from Hunter College in New York and proudly received his PhD in Chemistry from the University of Kansas. He started teaching at UW-Platteville in 1968 and ‘retired’ after 40 years of teaching in 2008. However, retirement never felt right, and he continued teaching until he passed away in 2022. He fiercely advocated student success and found great joy in all the students he interreacted with.

Jesse loved to spend his time in service. He volunteered in countless ways within the community and especially at his beloved Southwest Opportunities Center.

Jesse loved his dogs fiercely as well as all species of birds and animals. Of his many hobbies, making sure they were well fed was among them.

Anyone who knew him and even those who didn’t, Jesse always had a riddle or joke for you. He would unapologetically beat you to the laugh often times struggling to complete the joke as a result of his boyish laughter.