by Peter J. Marcucci

Special Contributor

On Friday, February 7, 2014, the stone industry, regrettably, lost one of its own. Stone World Magazine’s long-time Editor Michael Reis, at just 43 years old, passed away while vacationing in Jamaica. 

Growing up in Little Ferry, New Jersey, Michael Reis, just one year after graduating Rutgers University in 1992, began his two decades of service to our industry and to Stone World Magazine. Through those years, Michael, with his assertive attitude and unique writing style, helped shape and bring unity to an industry in constant flux—sometimes flourishing and sometimes faltering. 

Although someday I had hoped to, I never knew Michael Reis. As an avid reader of Stone Industry publications, I did, however, know him through his words in his monthly write up: “Stone Column.” I also knew him for his many elegant stories that also graced the pages of Stone World Magazine. In retrospect, Michael reached me on two levels: first, as a fabricator looking for clarity in a sometimes murky and complicated business environment—and second, as a writer thinking: Where should I begin this story, and how might Michael Reis write this? 

In the darkest of times, he offered wisdom, clarity, and knowledge with his unique glass half full style, bringing to light the latest news, events, equipment and techniques. A fierce and courageous advocate, standing up for us all, his pen was always mightier than anyone’s sword. In a context of stone, he showed absolute true grit while taking on safety, economic and internal issues within our industry. Not afraid to take a stand, Michael was our champion who never ran out of praise for the good and never ran from a fight. He was a diplomat always on the move, giving his personal best while traveling near and far in search of focus and truth. He loved who he was and what he did, and it showed—inspiring his staff to push the limits of their craft, while challenging fabricators to push the limits of theirs.

Both oracle and advocate, Michael Reis leaves behind his legacy to us all, and that legacy must continue and not end with his untimely passing. As writers and promoters of our industry, we are his protégés who must pick up our pens and with our ink and sweat attempt to fill the gap he has left. He leaves us while writing our industry, and his beloved monthly magazine into the 21st century, and takes with him our absolute respect and honor. Yes, we lost one of ours, and lest we forget—we were, and will remain one of his.  

So it is with a heavy heart that all of us at Braxton-Bragg and the Slippery Rock Gazette extend our deepest sympathies to his family and his loved ones. 

Farewell Michael. You will be missed in ways that we may never know.