Davis James Rieman

Davis James Rieman Sr. passed away peacefully due to natural causes on January 27, 2026, in Brick, New Jersey. He was born on June 6, 1936, in Jersey City to Aloysius Rieman and Anna Davis. He attended Syracuse University and afterwards moved to Paramus, New Jersey where he lived most of his life and raised his family. After retiring he and his wife Leila moved to Lakewood NJ where he spent the remainder of his life.

Davis possessed strong analytical skills and worked at Teledyne Isotopes in Westwood, New Jersey, where he conducted radiation safety surveys and managed radioactive waste. He then accepted a position at Airco Gases in Murray Hill NJ where he designed solvent recovery systems.

A proud member of Mensa, Davis valued science and reason, and possessed strong analytical skills that guided both his career and his approach to life. His membership reflected not only his exceptional intellect but also his enjoyment of engaging with others who shared his curiosity and passion for inquiry. He instilled in his large family the value of knowledge, education, intellectual exchange and lifelong learning. His family fondly recall his intelligence and ingenuity, and how he could find all things lost and fix all things broken.

Above all, Davis cherished his family. He was a devoted father and husband and spent all his spare time actively involved in raising his children. After work he could be found playing touch football with his children or engaging them in a game of strategy such as Risk or the card game Hearts. He was an exceptional chess player and rarely if ever lost, much to the chagrin of his family and co-workers. He had a deep love for the New Jersey Coast and Atlantic Ocean. Weekends would find him there with his family where he introduced his children to boating and marine sport fishing. He participated in competitive sports with his children and served as baseball and motocross BMX bicycle coach. He loved dogs, and bred, trained and exhibited several top AKC Champion Standard Poodles. He served as Paramus Cub Scout Troop Leader and assisted his sons with building many elaborately beautiful Pinewood Derby cars. He designed, built and flew the most stunning and detailed radio controlled planes and boats that were the envy of all in the local RC club. Davis had a fiercely competitive spirit, consistently striving to find a way to win every endeavor. He took great joy in having the fastest cars and boats, often utilizing oversized motors that he adapted for the purpose himself. The main focus of all of his hobbies however, was to spend time with his children and give them a happy childhood. He always made holidays, especially Christmas, joyful and magical experiences for his children. He is fondly remembered for his magnanimous generosity. His family often recall how he would give them the last dollar out of his wallet! He had a lifelong quest for knowledge, especially history, and read many books on the Civil War and both World Wars. He possessed an optimistic personality and outlook and could find humor in most things.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Leila Rieman, and their five children: Mary Rieman (Casey Snoeren), Elizabeth Kearns (Kevin Kearns) and her daughters Kelly, Amy and Brittany, Davis Rieman (Susan Mizdal) and his daughter Hayley, James Rieman (Preston Clark), and John Rieman (Dori Amarito) and his sons Christopher and Maxwell. He was predeceased by his son, Christopher Rieman (Vickie Dietz), who passed away in 2003 and has two daughters Caitlin and Kylie. In addition to his children and grandchildren, he is also survived by nine great-grandchildren.

Davis James Rieman Sr. will be remembered as an intelligent, analytical man with a genuine enthusiasm for life. He leaves behind a lasting legacy of integrity, fidelity, and love. His influence will continue to be felt by his family and all who had the privilege of knowing him.

A memorial service celebrating Davis' life will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 11:15 am at St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, 200 Wyckoff Ave, Ramsey, NJ 07446. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to The American Cancer Society.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Davis James Rieman, please visit our floral store.