Jonathan was born in New York City on Oct. 3, 1948, a son of Sydney and Marian Weil Reitman. He was a graduate of West Orange High School, NJ class of 1966 and of Lafayette College, PA class of 1970. Before earning his degree from University of Maine School of Law in 1978, he served as the Metropolitan Editor of the Easton Express, PA and taught at Maine Reach, Wiscasset, an alternative school which he helped found.
Upon earning his law degree, he became partner in one of New England’s largest union labor law firms, McTeague, Higbee, Libner, Reitman, MacAdam & Case. After leaving the firm, Jonathan provided local and international mediation and conflict resolution, armed with an unshakeable belief in peaceful resolution to which he gave himself tirelessly even when faced with his own physical challenges. His years as mediator, lecturer and contributing writer made him a beacon of inspiration for his community at large and in the profession he served.
His most notable international contributions were those as lecturer and trainer. He served as a Professor of Negotiation, Mediation, and Conflict Management to Palestinian and Israeli graduate students, Clark University, in Tel Avivi, Hafia, and Jerusalem. He was a repeat lecturer for the World Youth Service Enterprise in Bologna, Italy and London, England. He also served as a trainer on Conflict Transformation and Post-conflict Peacebuilding in Bosnia, Herzegovina, and Republika of Srpska. He was a member of Mediators Beyond Borders,
Middle East Initiative and was the recipient of the 2010 “Peacemaker of the Year Award,” Greater Brunswick Peaceworks. Locally, he was a founding partner of Gosline & Reitman and also served as chairman of the board for Pine Tree Legal Assistance for over 30 years.
Throughout his career and life, his gentle presence and calming nature left a profound effect on those around him. For decades, he provided loving mentorship to his friends in the AA community and was an active and spiritual contributor to the Bet Ha’am congregation, South Portland.
He is survived by his wife, Lilliana of Brunswick; a son Samuel Adams Reitman and his wife Elizabet Dahlstrand of Sequim, WA; a stepson, Chris Stearns of Denver CO; two brothers, Leslie W. Reitman and his wife Joyce Puschel of Denver, CO, Marc W. Reitman and his wife Cathleen Costello of Port Washington, NY; four nephews, Daniel Reitman of Port Washington, NY, Matthew Reitman of Brooklyn, NY, Drew Reitman of Denver CO, Will Kalish of Keystone CO; two nieces, Emily Reitman of Seattle, WA, Kate Poze of Portland; a sister-in-law, Maureen Costello of Boston; a grateful community of AA friends.
A memorial service will be held 10 a.m. Friday, June 13, 2014 at Congregation Bet Ha’am, 81 Westbrook St., South Portland, ME. A time of remembrance will be held between noon and 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 14 in Jonathan’s gardens at 47 Ocean Drive, Brunswick. Condolences and memories can be expressed at www.brackettfuneralhome.co m. Memorial contributions can be made to Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program, 84A Union St., Brunswick, ME 04011, or Pine Tree Legal Assistance Inc., 88 Federal St., Portland, ME 04101.
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