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Obituary

Doctor's life devoted to caring

By MARTY CLEAR
Published September 29, 2006

SUNSET PARK - Until just a few months ago, Dr. Ernest Reiner put in long days volunteering at the Judeo Christian Health Clinic and played tennis three times a week.

He was in his mid 80s but still had the energy, vitality and outlook of a young man.

Dr. Reiner died Sept. 12, 2006.

"He was too young to have died," said his son, Tampa pediatrician Chris Reiner. "Even at 86, he was absolutely too young."

Long after he technically retired, and even after he was diagnosed with a brain tumor last year, Dr. Reiner continued his work at the clinic on N MacDill Avenue. Chemotherapy and radiation weakened him, but he had devoted his life to helping people and he wasn't about to let age or cancer stop him.

"Here was a man who was undergoing chemotherapy, and he still came in here to check on his patients," said Tom Cue, administrative assistant to the executive director at the Judeo Christian Health Clinic. "He was doing that until two weeks before he died."

Dr. Reiner was born in Tampa and graduated from Plant High School. His life took him to other cities, but he always considered Tampa his home.

"His attitude was always that Tampa was absolutely the best place in the world, so why would anyone ever want to live anywhere else," his son said.

He became one of Tampa's most prominent physicians, first in private practice and then in his volunteer work at the Judeo Christian Health Clinic.

Dr. Reiner got a late start to his medical career. After he finished high school, he worked various jobs for a few years, then joined the Army. He spent World War II stationed in London, flying 76 missions as a bombardier, earning an Air Medal and Distinguished Flying Cross.

He later studied medicine at Columbia University. During those years, he met Doris Swanum, who soon became his wife.

After Columbia, the Reiners and their young son moved to Minneapolis. Dr. Reiner did postgraduate work and the couple had a daughter, Leslie, who now co-owns Inkwood Books. The family returned to Tampa for good in 1957 and settled in Sunset Park. Dr. Reiner co-founded the Palma Ceia Medical Clinic, where he practiced for 36 years.

He was one of the first doctors at the Judeo Christian Health Clinic when it opened in 1972 and helped build the free clinic from its origins in a trailer.

"He was very instrumental in fundraising for the clinic," Cue said. "He knew everybody and he wrote a lot of letters and made a lot of phone calls. He always wanted to do anything he could to help."

Aside from his work and his family, Dr. Reiner's passion was the Florida Orchestra. He served on the orchestra's board for decades, until about four years ago.

"He was always devoted to the orchestra and its potential," said Leonard Stone, the orchestra's executive director. "He even paid for advertisements, pleading the orchestra's case out of his own pocket."

Stone said he last saw Dr. Reiner about a month ago.

Dr. Reiner knew his condition was worsening and said he hoped he would last to see the orchestra's first concert of the season. He died 13 days before the concert.

"It's a great loss for the orchestra, for Tampa and for the Tampa Bay area," Stone said.

In addition to his wife and children, Dr. Reiner is survived by a brother, Walter Reiner, and six grandchildren. A memorial service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at Hyde Park United Methodist Church.

[Last modified September 28, 2006, 12:01:58]