Herbert R. Reinelt Jr., a professor of philosophy for almost four decades at University of the Pacific, died June 26 in Seattle. He was 94.

Reinelt taught at Pacific from 1962 to 1999. He started his teaching career at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1959.

“While he was a person of strong personal faith, he very much was committed to the importance of reason and evidence-based arguments and the compatibility of a religious, spiritual-based life with the critical pursuit of truth and science,” said Professor of Philosophy Lou Matz.

When Reinelt arrived at Pacific, the university was in the process of renewal for the development of small cluster colleges. He became a leader in the development of a new faculty/administrative structure, his first of many leadership roles throughout his Pacific career.

He received the Outstanding Professor Award and, at retirement, the Order of Pacific, the university’s highest honor granted to outstanding faculty and staff. He also received the Outstanding Family Award from the Pacific Alumni Association in 2017.

A Seattle native who enjoyed hiking and camping, Reinelt earned the rank of Eagle Scout. He earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Washington in 1954 and later three degrees from the Yale Divinity School at Yale University, culminating in his Ph.D. in 1962.

Reinelt was a life-long donor to many organizations and faith communities. He supported social justice, civil and human rights, democracy, education and the environment. In 1964, he chaired the San Joaquin County Coalition in Support of Fair Housing, which worked toward the elimination of housing discrimination.

Recently, he co-chaired the Partners in Caring campaign at the retirement community where he lived. The purposes were to raise money for staff to pursue education and to support residents who had outlived their assets.

Here is an oral interview with Reinelt on Pacific’s Scholarly Commons compiled five years after his retirement.

He is survived by children, grandchildren and one great grandchild. A celebration of life was held recently in Seattle.

The family asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Dr. Herbert Reinelt Endowed Humanities Scholarship at University of the Pacific. The endowed scholarship fund, established in 2009, offers need-based scholarships to students studying in the humanities, with priority given to philosophy students.