KINGSTON, R.I. – May 21 – It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of a beloved colleague, friend, and member of the URI community, Walter Von Reinhard, on May 12, 2025. Walter came to URI in 1990 as a key hire for the International Engineering and International Business Programs at URI. He taught thousands of students at URI until his retirement and was also Associate Director of the Honors Program from 2006 to 2012. He was an integral part of the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures, caring deeply for his students, his colleagues and the University. He was particularly renowned for his innovative work teaching German for Science and Technology and Business German, winning recognition from the Editorial Board of the American Association of Teachers of German for his contributions to teaching methodology. He taught at the Deutsche Sommerschule am Atlantik for fifteen years and was deeply committed to fostering cultural and linguistic exchange.
Walter earned his Ph.D. in German Studies from Brown University in 1997, an A.M. in German Literature from the University of Michigan in 1986, and an A.B. in American and German Literature from the Universität Mannheim, Germany in 1983. He also held a German vocational certification in business administration from the Industrie und Handelskammer Ludwigshafen.
Beyond his academic achievements, Walter will be remembered for his warmth, intellect, clever humor and dedication to his students. His contributions to the University of Rhode Island and the field of German Studies have left a lasting impact
Walter’s obituary can be viewed in full on Olson & Parent Funeral website.
Walter von Reinhart died in the care of the HopeHealth Hulitar Hospice Center near his home in Providence on May 12, 2025, with his family at his side. Acute Myeloid Leukemia took his life but could never eclipse the love he gave and received, even in his last hours. He is survived by Jodi, his wife of forty years; their daughter Megan Forelle, her husband Charles, and their daughters Katherine and Louisa; their daughter Anneli von Reinhart, her husband Erich, and their sons Wesley and Cameron; his siblings Christiane von Reinhart, Regina Weissman and Malte von Reinhart; his Lozier in-law siblings; and more than 20 beloved nieces and nephews, in Arizona and Germany.
Walter was born to Jobst and Irmgard von Reinhart on February 13, 1957, in Kusel, Germany. He studied at Universität Mannheim before earning a master’s degree at the University of Michigan and a doctorate in German Literature at Brown University. For 25 years he taught German language and humanities at the University of Rhode Island, where he helped create the International Engineering Program, helped direct the Honors Program, and was respected and beloved by students and colleagues alike.
A musician who played upright bass as well as acoustic and electric guitars, Walter passionately loved music. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of blues, jazz, rock, and Bach; played in bands of many genres; and cherished memories of attending Newport Jazz and Folk festivals with family. A voracious bibliophile, he especially loved Voltaire, J. R. R. Tolkien, Kurt Vonnegut, Margaret Atwood, and Olivia Butler. His taste in movies ran decidedly lower-brow, and he was often heard quoting Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure or Spaceballs. Legendary for his love of cats and capybaras, coffee, Fußbal (Manchester United!) and hiking, Walter found nothing so soothing to the soul as a wander in the woods and could often be spotted walking around the East Side and Swan Point, sporting his Indiana Jones hat and walking stick.
Walter was a humble, hard-working, impish, kind, generous, genuine, brilliant, tender-hearted, and wise man. He faced illness with unbelievable grace and gratitude. More than anything else, he was immensely loving. Many friends, colleagues, and “spare children” have aching hearts and will miss his smile and irreverent humor almost as much as his family will. An adoring and devoted father to his daughters, who adored him in return, he absolutely lit up when he saw his grandchildren. On his last day speaking, Walter said that being their Opa was his favorite job.
Services will be held in the Historic Chapel at Swan Point Cemetery at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 19, 2025, with green burial immediately following. The family encourages attire that includes floral or botanical prints, to reflect Walter’s love of nature and gardens, and the beauty of Swan Point.
If you wish to send flowers, please contact The Enchanted Florist. Please consider donating in Walter’s memory to the Rhode Island Blood Center or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.