It is with deep sadness that the Disciples Seminary Foundation (DSF) announces the death of President Emeritus Dr. Donald D. Reisinger. Dr. Reisinger developed DSF as a ministry of the whole church to support theological leaders on the west coast. He was a pastor, visionary, fund raiser extraordinaire and will be deeply missed by his family, DSF staff, students, and his many friends throughout the Church.
Dr. Reisinger was born in Leavenworth, Kansas, the son of Loretta Reisinger and Francis O. Reisinger, a Disciples minister and later professor of Old Testament at Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana. Don received his B.A. and M.A. degrees from Butler University and the B.D. from Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis, in 1954. Chapman College honored him with the Doctor of Divinity degree in 1968, and Culver-Stockton College honored him similarly in 1976 with the Doctor of Humanities. He was to receive the Church Leader of the Year award from Chapman University in March of this year.
Dr. Reisinger was called as Dean of the Disciples Seminary Foundation in 1962. During his 38 years of formal leadership, he built DSF into a ministry that has served over 600 students. He first developed relationships with the Claremont School of Theology and later with the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley and the San Francisco Theological Seminary/Southern California. He was particularly adept at nurturing relationships and strengthening the endowment. During his leadership, he helped accumulate several million dollars in permanent funds for ongoing ministry.
There are few people in the life of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) who have had as much influence. Dr. Reisinger served on the General Board, Board of Church Extension, Board of Unified Promotion, Board of Church Finance Council, Board of Higher Education, Chair of the Council of Theological Education, Committee Member of the World Convention, Board of Directors of Christian Churches of Southern California-Nevada, Board Treasurer of Eastmont Community Center, Chair of the Southern California Reconciliation Program, Chair of the Endowment Committee of the Christian Church of the Pacific Southwest Region, and Board of Elders of First Christian Church Pomona, CA.
Dr. Reisinger leaves behind his wife Marjorie Turley Reisinger, son Rick Reisinger, who is Vice President and Treasurer of Church Extension, son Roger Reisinger, daughter Beth Reisinger Thies, daughter Nancy Reisinger Sandoval, and fourteen grandchildren. Don was preceded in death by son Brian Reisinger.
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Memorial Service for The Rev. Dr. Don Reisinger
February 21, 2010
3:00 p.m.
First Christian Church 1751 N. Park Ave.,
Pomona, CA, 91768
Church Telephone: (909) 622-1144
*Reception Following
The Reisinger family has requested in lieu of flowers that gifts be made to Disciples Seminary Foundation (Donald D. and Marjorie T. Reisinger Endowment Fund), Eastmont Community Center (Reisinger Academia Fund) and First Christian Church (Memorial Fund).
Gifts may be directed to:
Eastmont Community Center
701 So. Hoefner Avenue
Los Angeles, CA., 90022
Telephone: (323) 762-7998
[email protected]
First Christian Church
1751 N. Park Ave.,
Pomona, CA., 91768
Church Telephone: (909) 622-1144
[email protected]
Disciples Seminary Foundation
300 West. Foothill Blvd.
Claremont, CA 91711
909 624-0712 Tel
909 626-4100 Fax
[email protected]
