Reis, Herbert Kramer

Born: 10/02/1932, Chicago, Illinois

Died: Fort Lauderdale, Florida 07/18/2023

Son of eminent gynecologist Ralph A. Reis, M.D. and loving Rose-Frances Kramer Reis of Chicago, Herb was predeceased by his dear sisters, writer Jory Graham and educator Ruth Pomaranc. Herb began his early education at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, graduating in 1954 from Northwestern University where he was William Randolph Hearst Scholar in American History and Phi Beta Kappa; and he graduated in 1957 from the Yale Law School. At the Department of State Office of The Legal Adviser in the 1960s, he became a major U.S negotiator in developing 1967 Outer Space Treaty prohibitions against earth-orbiting nuclear weapons and lunar or planetary militarization; mutual respect for the planetary environments; freedom of access; and the encouragement of international cooperation in space activities. He was the lead U.S negotiator for the 1967 Astronaut Rescue Agreement, the 1971 Outer Space Liability Convention and the 1974 Outer Space Registration Convention. From 1971 to 1984 Herb was chief Legal Adviser to George H. W. Bush, Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Andrew Young during their tenures as United States Ambassadors to the United Nations.

In 1980, the UN General Assembly elected him Member of the UN Administrative Tribunal. Appointed Adjunct Professor of Law at NYU Law School, he taught constitutional and international law for fifteen years. He also served for many years in his retirement as a volunteer attorney at the Gay Men’s Health Crisis in New York City.

For some forty years Herb found in William James Coffey, Ph.D., CPA, a man of extraordinary verve, intelligence, energy, curiosity and high good humor.  Herb also leaves prized nieces Joan Pomaranc of Chicago; Anne Pomaranc Corwin of New York City (and her late husband, Paul Corwin, and their children, Michael and Rebecca); and Kaye Pomaranc White of Chicago (and her children Emily and Addison). Herb was profoundly indebted to and deeply happy in them and in his larger family and friends. He was a major contributor to Lambda Legal and an ardent supporter of Lambda’s work for equal opportunity without regard to sexual orientation or gender identity. He considered himself a lucky man.

Arrangements entrusted to: Boyd-Panciera Family Funeral Care, 1600 N. University Drive, Pembroke Pines, Florida 33024.