Margaret Mollie Jane Reis

A community activist, volunteer and homemaker, Margaret (Mollie J.) Reis of Mashpee, MA was a highly motivated servant of her community whose lifetime activities ranged from school board director to supporter of the arts to helping build a women’s shelter all the while caring for family and friends. She died July 2 after a brief illness at the age of 80.

Mrs. Reis was born in February 7, 1933 in Atlantic City, NJ and grew up in the seaside community of Brigantine. Known affectionately as Mollie, she was a graduate of Holy Spirit High School in Atlantic City and crowned “Miss Hydrangea” in 1954. Not coincidentally, blue and purple were her favorite colors something she was known for displaying in her dress and in decor. Mollie was contestant dresser and chaperone for the Miss America Pageant along with her beloved sister Jeanne. Later, she worked at Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company. Upon moving to San Francisco in 1959, she was active in the Repertory Theater of the Francis Drake Hotel and raised money for the Tom Dooley Foundation holding tea dances to outfit the organization’s hospital boats. When she returned to Atlantic City to care for her parents, she found time to engage in a successful real estate and marketing career. While visiting Hingham in the late 1970’s, she fell in love with A. William (Bill) Reis, Jr. They married on February 14th, 1978, only days after the blizzard of ’78 moved through Massachusetts. They moved first to Cohasset, MA before settling in Mashpee in 1986.

Mrs. Reis was a founding director of the Mashpee Community Concert Committee and the driving force behind the first Mashpee ‘Night at the Pops’ which for many years was a Cape-wide extravaganza during the July 4th holiday. She served for five years as a Mashpee School Director, and one of her greatest loves was as a volunteer for the Housing Assistance Corporation which supported charitable work including ‘Noah’s Shelter’ and ‘The Carriage House’ in North Falmouth, a facility for mothers and their children needing temporary housing assistance. She raised $70,000 to refinish the interior so that each mother and infant had their private bedroom. Mollie befriended Dick & Eleanor Grace and became an ardent supporter of the Doreen Grace Brain Center in New Seabury where she volunteered countless hours to promote the Center's cause.

The Women's Club of New Seabury was another of Mollie's favorite organizations and her beautifully hand-crafted ceramic nativity scenes always received a high bid at the Annual Christmas Bazaar. She received their annual Philanthropy Award for her civic endeavors. The Mashpee Library and the Boys & Girls Club were among the many other local non-profit organizations that Mollie supported. The Mashpee Chamber of Commerce honored Mollie with their "Distinguished Community Service Award" in recognition of her many efforts.

Mrs. Reis was beloved wife, step-mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend.

The eldest daughter of Charles James Lange and Margaret Jane (McAdam) Lange of Atlantic City, NJ, she will be sadly missed by her family and many friends. Mollie’s many talents included crocheting and pottery. She generously gave keepsakes over the years to her family, friends and charities and her kindness and love will be remembered for generations.

Mollie is survived by her husband, Bill and his sons Channing (Ann) of Hampton Falls, NH, Glenn (Vicki) of Greenville, SC, and Joanne Lee of New Port Richey, FL. She was predeceased by her step-sons, A. William, III (Judi) and Dana Bradford Reis. She is also survived by eight step-grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, sisters Jeanne L. Murphy of Hingham, MA and Sallye A. (Bill) Nordling and a brother Michael J. Lange of Brigantine, NJ, fifteen nieces and nephews and eighteen grand nieces and nephews.

. A funeral mass will be held 11 AM, July 9 on Tuesday at The Parish of Christ the King, 3 Job’s Fishing Road, Mashpee, MA. Interment at the National Cemetery in Bourne will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to The Carriage House shelter, 460 W. Main Street, Hyannis, MA 02601.