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A Mahopac resident, Reitz, 57, suffered a heart attack in court on Friday, June 14, and court officers were unable to revive him after performing CPR and using a defibrillator in an attempt to resuscitate him.
Visitation for Reitz will be held from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, June 17 at the Putnam County Bureau of Emergency Services on Old Route 6 in Carmel. A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. the following day on Tuesday, June 18 at the St. James the Apostle Church on Gleneida Avenue in Carmel.
A former lawyer who practiced at a private firm for years, including a decade as a Carmel town justice, Reitz was elected as the Putnam County Court Judge in 2007 and re-elected in 2016. He graduated from Mercy College in 1986 and earned his law degree from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1989.
On Facebook, former State Sen. Terrence Murphy penned a heartfelt message remembering Reitz.
"Putnam County lost a giant today," Murphy said. "In my life, I have met few people of greater character, loyalty, and dedication than Judge James Reitz.
"His Drug Court Program, which will be his legacy as a public servant, should be a model for New York State. Judge Reitz was the ultimate public servant, but more importantly, I am proud to say he was a true friend. My heart goes out to all who had the privilege of knowing him, and of course, his incredible wife Barbara."
This continues to be a developing story. Check back to Daily Voice for updates.
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