Peter Reiff Obituary

To the family of Pete Reiff- you have our sincere sympathy. I knew Pete for many years as he coached at Hoffman and I coached at Conant. Our meets were always hotly contested, but we had a mutual respect for each other's teams. He will be missed by fellow coaches because of his love for the sport. Jack Ary

Running for Mr. Reiff was the only thing I was looking forward to my Senior year at Hoffman Estates High School. By then running had become my life. Everyday I waited for the clock to turn 3:00. That was the time I got to share my friends, my teammates and my coach, Mr. Reiff. Unfortunately, my track season ended early. Little did I know at the time that my injury would turn out to be the best thing that happened to me. I was able to see the sport in a different light. Mr. Reiff became my mentor. I wanted to learn everything I could about coaching, and who better to teach me. After I graduated I came back now and then to see my coach and he always had words of wisdom for me. He knew I wanted to be a coach one day and he told me that I would make a great coach and a great teacher. This spring, I came back every day to run and to talk with Mr. Reiff. We joked a lot about the school and the future. One thing we talked about was who would be his assistant coach after Mr. Alex left. I told him that I graduate in two years. He told me that he could use me. That was one of the last things he told me. I really wish I could have had that oppurtunity. Even if it was just this summer. Still, I am thankful for every moment I shared with him. Mr. Reiff has been my coach, my teacher, my mentor, and my friend. I will greatly miss him and I hope that one day I make him proud by becoming that great teacher and coach that he told me I would become.



Thank you Mr. Reiff for helping to make me what I am and what I will become. And thank you to your family for sharing you with us. I would have been lost without you sir. I will make you proud!!



Matthew "Mac" McCulley (class of '02)

My deepest condolences to Peter's family! I am the daughter of one of his mother's college friends. She emailed this to me and it was a shock to hear of his passing. We met when we were young and it is with regret to see of his early passing. Again, my sincerest sympathies to his family.

My sincere sympathy to the Reiff Family. I lost contact with my ol' friend, Laura Reiff many years ago. I am saddened to hear about the passing of Peter. My prayers are with Laura and the Reiff Family.

With Sincere Sympathy,

Cindy Matsie

Bartlett, IL

Mr. Reiff was and still will be like a second father to me. Everyone who he touched have become better people for just having known him. He had a genius and novel approach to teaching and athletics...just tell it like it is. All the runners I have met and befriended at Hoffman have been touched and changed by Mr. Reiff.



I remember my last track race senior year and my goal was only to break 5:00 in the mile. He came up to me and said, "last chance Gal" right before I took the line. I ran my hardest I have ever run and actually broke 5:00, just out of fear of letting my hero down. It was my greatest achievement and knowing he was there and excited to see it just makes it even better. Thank you Mr. Reiff and I'll see you waiting in Heaven with your yellow DeKalb hat ready to greet me with a mile repeat workout. We will miss you forever.

I was amazed at how many people came and stayed and stayed at the service for Mr. Reiff. It is a tribute to the man he was, an inspiration to all who knew him. It is comforting in the times in which we live that there are such good people in the world. Everyone at the service, and everyone who was there in spirit is a good person, and Pete Reiff was the best. We should never forget him, and we should try to live our lives as well as he lived his.

I was very sad when I heard about the passing of Mr. Reiff. He had the unique ability to make each of his students and runners reach for their full potential and feeling of self-worth. He let his runners know that they were always more important to him as human beings than as athletes. I was fortunate to be a part of the family of track and cross-country runners at Hoffman for four years. Mr. Reiff always elevated my son and others to reach for and exceed their goals. He did this by setting an example they wanted to follow. Everyone who knew him is blessed that he was a part of their life. His wisdom, sense of pride, and high moral values will live on in all who knew him.

We have not seen Peter for many years but we are saddened by his early death. Please accept our deepest condolences.

The Eckwall Family

Mr. Reiff



It seems like yesterday when you talked me into running cross-country to stay in shape for track. I had no idea what I was in for. Your words of inspiration are still with me today. I can still hear you yelling encouragement’s and calling splits. So here’s to Hilldale, Rosedale, 20 quarters, 32 200’s, fartlek, intervals, 3 mile warm up, 2 mile cool down, and the dreaded SHOE FACTORY Road run!



You will be missed.

I did not have Mr. Reiff as a teacher, but received great benefits from him as a coach. He was a motivator, a great one. His record, and those of the student-athletes that learned from him, speak to his outstanding accomplishments. His athletes wanted to do well for him, because he was always prepared to do well for them. I recall running at York for a dual meet one track season, and the extra incentive to make a good showing for him made me extra proud to have come through. I live in the past a lot, too much perhaps, but I do so because I have good memories. The majority of all my memories during high school revolve around what I did on the track team, and it is those memories that motivate me today on a daily basis. Pete Reiff is a major source of my motivation today stemming from those old memories. Because of him, I am a much better person today, and I do not take that for granted.



I thought about Pete Reiff recently, as a matter of fact. For years, I’ve always known that by following in the footsteps that he laid out for me, I can achieve success. He was a planner and he was a builder of the future. What he built was a legacy to his great name in every person that ever benefited from his training. He planted seeds in thousands of students and athletes, and that legacy will live forever. His family should take great pride in knowing that there are a great many of us walking around today that benefited from his being a part of our lives.



I keep telling myself I am going to start running again. I’m going to start today.

Dear Dylan, Landon, and Madeleine,



Justin, Paul , and I are very sad to hear of the passing of your father. I respected him a lot and know how important he was in your life. I hope the memories you had together will keep you going and if we can ever help you or your mom out, we would be happy to. God bless each of you and know that your father is in a wonderful place where you will be with him again someday.

Love,

Linda, Justin, & Paul Mallers

As much as remembering you will elicit a fondness for your indefatigable commitment to independence, it will also generate an admiration for how effortlessly you could bring a community together, be it in the classroom, on the course or track, or in the sharing of your remembrance.

It has been a long time since I left Hoffman High...a few faces and inspirations are etched in my mind on what those 4 years were all about. Some were definite learning experiences but some shine as well as if they just happened. I will forever remember Mr. Reiff and Mr. Alex as the two most charming, funny, respected men that I not only had as teachers but also had the privilege of knowing. Years later...as I branched out, I had the extreme privilege of being reintroduced to Mr. Reiff as this new man...Peter. I know he was always the same man, but to see him in a different perspective added onto the respect I always held for him. He was a gracious, pleasant and charming as he ever was, and his children are just as beautiful along with his wonderful wife.



Maddie...my prayers are full of you dear. You are truly a gift from God that your daddy so richly deserved to see you grow into that magnificent woman I know you will grow to be. I have the great luck to have met you as a Daisy Scout, which you will forever bloom in such a beautiful flower that your daddy and mommy have planted. Your father was a great man. And just like many men before him, it only takes a few moments to make an impact that will affect our world and our existence forever. Your father may have only graced this world for a short time, but his impact on us all will forever carry his spirit. May God bless you and your brother and mother. Whenever you feel you miss your daddy, always turn to your family or your Godmother to give you the memories to think about and you will feel your daddy's presence. He will always be your guardian angel. God Bless you and your whole family...and may Peter always find peace and remain at peace knowing that with his life, he bridged so many people to a plateau in their lives. God bless you forever Peter.



"The Lord turned and said, 'My precious, precious child. I love you and will never leave you. Those times in your life when you look and saw only one set of footprints, that was when I carried you.'"



God Bless you all

Allison Lindrum-Conforti

HEHS Class of 1989

St. Joseph Girl Scout TSC

Mr. Reiff was an amazing man who has taught me so much about life. Being a part of his very last world history class, I learned that in order to receive an A, you actually have to work hard and study! He always told us that a class project isn't making a castle out of sugar cubes, but instead dictating an oral report on them. His "old school" ideals made a long-lasting impression on me, and I will be forever grateful. During my last class with Mr. Reiff he told us that the glass is always half full, that there is no way to live your life to its fullest thinking that it is half empty...he was a great man of wisdom who will never be forgotten.



Mr. Reiff...thank you for teaching me more than you will ever know. It almost doesn't seem real that I am going to walk into class again tomorrow, but you aren't going to be the teacher. Thank you for leaving a lasting impression on my life, and I am blessed to have had you as a teacher. It just makes me sad to think about all of those kids who aren't going to have you as their world history teacher...they will never get to meet such a great man who meant so much to everyone.

Over the 14 since high school many of my memories of HEHS have faded. I can't remember much about gym class, biology, or health. What I do remember is the four years I spent running at HEHS under Pete Reiff.



From that first Hilldale run of my freshman year through the State Meet my Senior year, I will always remember feeling that I was a part of a team. A team that everyone was proud to be on. For that we owe you, and that is what I will never forget.



High School may continue to fade, but 85-89 will always be my track & cross country years with Pete Reiff as my coach. I thank you for those memories that I will never forget.

Mr. Pete Reiff, a man whom I frequently visited past my high school and college years, was an extraordinary teacher, gentleman, motivator, and historian. As only the greatest teachers and coaches of my life have done, Mr. Reiff has moved me to ask more of myself later in life. Those who knew him understand what an important person he was, and must continue the example by which he lead. I will miss him greatly, a man who when he was with us gave his all in everything he did.

Mr. Reiff was a man who challenged both his students and his athletes. That is a quality that is sorely lacking in many teachers and professors who might have more degrees or teach at more "prestigious" schools or universities.



I was fortunate enough to have Mr. Reiff as my world history teacher as a freshman at Hoffman. He urged me to strive for goals that I would not have otherwise thought of, and did not let me just coast on my talent in the classroom.



I was also fortunate enough to run track for four years at Hoffman. Even though I was a sprinter, and even though I was a slow sprinter, Mr. Reiff made sure that I got to compete in many meets and strive to improve my personal best. And while I was never a top athlete, running track was one of the greatest parts of my high school experience, and that was in large part due to Mr. Reiff.



I was shocked and extremely saddened to hear of his passing, and will always cherish the memories of our discussions on topics ranging from the Mongols to the state of American running.



Hoffman Estates High School has lost a great educator. We will miss you, Mr. Reiff.

Pete -



Thanks for taking care of my boys and making men out of them. Every mile they ran for you moved them up a notch in value.



Last night at your service, I kept thinking about what a good day it was for a cross-country meet with rain, wind, and mud on the course.



Run on!

I was supposed to stop in and see you today Mr. Reiff...to tell you about all the history courses I have been taking... to tell you that I was accepted into the Honors History Program...and to tell you that you are the very reason why i took on history as my second major. When I was a sophomore, and I heard you were teaching US history in the summer, I signed up just so I could have you one last time before I graduated. I miss being sent to your office to fill up your coffee cup. You were always so proud of Cyrus and me. We really miss you.

It was an honor to be a part of Mr. Reiff's running regime. Mr. Reiff not only taught us to compete, but he also taught the meaning of life. I considered Mr. Reiff as not only my coach, but like a father and mostly like a friend. He was an true inspiration all of us. I can remember when I made a bet with Mr. Reiff my freshman year to break 5:20 in the mile. Everytime I would lose the bet, I would buy him a donut. Unfortunately, for me, but fortunately for Mr. Reiff, I lost every bet freshman year. He was rich with donuts. But with Mr. Reiff's motivation and inspiration I brought that mile time down to 4:40 senior year. I going to miss Mr. Reiff...everybody is, there is not doubt about that. I'm going to miss the trips to peoria, I'm going to miss the intense workouts, but most of all, I'm going to miss Mr. Reiff's company. It was an honor to be a part of his running program, and I know that I would not have even considered running if it were not for Mr. Reiff coaching. We're going to miss him dearly. Mr. Reiff called me a moose, but Mr. Reiff was the real moose.

It's so wonderful to read all the great things being said about Mr. Reiff. He was a wonderful teacher who didn't compromise his ideals and expectations for anything. I feel blessed to have been in his class and to have known such a great man. Mr. Reiff, more than anything, you taught me to do what I believe is right. Thank you for all the lessons you taught your students and your athletes. You will truly be missed. May you rest in peace. My prayers are with you and your family.

Pete’s passing is a great surprise and a shock to me. I knew Pete well in high school and greatly admired his running ability (as did just about anyone who ever ran with him). He was probably the most competitive person I ever knew, at least on the cross-country course and during workouts. I’ll never ever forget the day he ran a 55 second quarter mile in one of Joe Newton's insane cross-country workouts. OH -- this was after a 5 mile warm-up and 35 quarter mile intervals (that's 8 3/4 miles worth of quarters with a minute or so rest period between them) - THEN he runs a decent mile relay split on his 36th! I retold that story recently to a woman who is a sub 2:40 marathoner (i.e., national if not world class marathoner) and she was blown away by it! Pete had the heart of a lion and the gams to match. I must admit losing track of Pete after he graduated from high school and I didn't know that he was into coaching, although I can't say I'm surprised by it. By the sound of it, there will be a big hole left in his absence. The track and cross country community has lost a legend-in-the-making yet he clearly left a legacy in the period during which he ran and coached.

For Dylan, Landon and Madeleine:



There will be many wonderful things said about your father, Pete Reiff. More than anything else, I want the three of you to understand what a great and positive impact your father had on atheletes and students alike.



Pete Reiff was one of the best educators Hoffman Estates High School ever had. He was a positive, reliable role model to everyone who knew him. Pete Reiff set a high standard of excellence for everyone to follow. Mediocrity was not an option.



I remember Mr. Reiff telling me on several occassions, "I would rather be well respected than well liked". The tributes pouring in now are a testament to the love and respect his pupils had for him. We all hold Pete Reiff in the highest regard.



We will not forget your father because he was one of the most intelligent, fair and dedicated people we knew. Remember and live by his example and you will continue to do yourselves and your father proud.



Rob McCoy

Hoffman Estates High School

Class of '89

It was an honor and privilege to have known you Mr. Reiff. I will always remember the lessons you have taught me, your words of encouragement, and your dedication to hard work. Thank you for everything. You will truly be missed. My prayers are with his family and friends.

A few good men...Mr. Reiff you are one of those few! An inspirational being for some of the most impressionable years of one's life.

It was a distinct privelege to work with you and be a student under your wings.

A tall strong man with a thick mustache and a DeKalb baseball cap runs from one critical spot on the course to another. He yells with that distinctive voice,” arms up, arms up”.



I will always remember those shouts across the Hoffman track or on a muddy slope, urging us on with that powerful presence. I feel that the time I spent under his guidance gave me a tremendous reward. That was to be a part of a team, where we all pushed each other to the best of our abilities. I can only hope that I too can give that feeling, in some part, back to my own children.



He will always have my greatest respect and admiration for all he has done. His years of sacrifice to the men and women he molded will be his greatest legacy.



I know that he is looking down upon us, happy that we have learned his life’s teachings. Not as a mere runner, but as a dedicated hard working human being.

Mr.Reiff was a great man. From him I gained a better understanding of who I wanted to be. Words like respect, honor, desire, commitment and determination are words used in today’s culture without understanding of what they truly mean. Mr. Reiff taught the true meaning of these words.



I have faced many challenges in my life and in these times I have found myself thinking of lessons Mr. Reiff. To his children thank you for sharing your father with all of the CC and Track boys. To Mr. Reiff thank you I was listening…. Knees Up, Knees, Knees Up….

It was an honor to be an athlete under Mr. Reiff's leadership. He always treated us teenagers like men and never faltered in showing that hard work pays off. I would think of him often when I would go running after graduating. Also, at any race I ran after hs, it would give me a sense that he was there. I could still here him say, "suck it up Schaf!" - to make me try harder and forget the pain. When my dad died in 1991, Mr. Reiff brought out a lot of the younger runners to support me in my time of loss. That was probably the only time he called me by my first name.

The loss of Mr. Reiff was a huge shock. His teaching tactics will be missed. He was a hard but fair teacher. My prayers are with his family and friends.



Good Bye!!1

In all my life I've never met a coach who gave more of his life to his sport than Mr. Reiff did to running. Those who knew him well, knew that it was coaching that always kept him going. To have run for Mr. Reiff is an honor that can only be truly appreciated by those who have experienced it. We didn't simply run for him, we became a part of his family. In all of our hearts, he earned a degree of respect and trust only paralleled by that of a father. Each year, at the final team meeting, seemingly every graduating class of us Hoffman distance runners came to refer to him as a second father, and with great sadness we said goodbye to the most meaningful and shaping years of our young lives. In today's world of lower standards and emphasis on appearances before hard work, Mr. Reiff refused to compromise his old school ideals, and instilled these same values in us. He urged us to take part in the tremendous sacrifice and reward of working together toward a single goal. This spirit is the essence of cross country, which by no coincidence was also his greatest passion. To him, it was never about times or strategies as much as it was about heart and camaraderie. And anyone who has been coached by him has heard those two words hundreds of times. To be teammates on one of his teams meant to be lifetime friends, both with each other and with him. I think I can speak for all of his runners when I say that it's painful to realize that we can no longer visit the track or course and find Mr. Reiff there, overjoyed to welcome us back with a smile and a shout of our name.

Though I feel that I will never be able to express exactly what Mr. Reiff meant to my life, I know that I would not be where I am today without his influence, leadership, and guidance. He was a phenomenal teacher and coach who made an impact on all who were blessed with the good fortune of having known him.

It was a distinct honor to know you and the world will be a poorer place without your insight.

Mr. Reiff was from the old school and proud of it. He taught us respect, both for our sport and for our academics. In the classroom and in coaching he stressed hard work and discipline because he knew where it would lead us later in life. He helped shape thousands of boys into men and he made our team our family. I have never known closer friends than I had on my cross country team. Reiff was like our father, teaching us about life through competition. We always tried our best to make him proud, and you knew that we all did from the way he always remembered every last runner he ever coached and what their biggest running accomplishments were. I have no idea who could proceed him in coaching the Hoffman boys cross country team, the school lost an amazing teacher and coach that will not be easily replaced. May God be with his family through their time of need.

A sad day for Track and Field and Cross Country at HEHS. Your inspiration to dig deep and fight the competition will never be forgotten. Your passion for running and passing it onto younger generations will be carried on in our young lives to come. You will not be forgotten. -- The Seniors of 1999-2000 Season.

Mr. Reiff was an excellent teacher and I always enjoyed going to his class. His lively, candid explanations of world history simultaneously made us laugh and learn. He also greatly challenged us and held our writing to a very high standard for which I will always be grateful. A standard that still dictates the way I write today. World History classes will not be the same without him. He will be greatly missed.

I would just like to thank Peter for his professionalism and his tremendous love for the kids and the sport of track and field. The sport will certainly be less enjoyable and be missing something special without him. He will be missed.

We love you and we thank you for all of the lessons you have taught us throughout your life. You have been an inspiration to myself on how I lead my life and an inspiration to 1000's of young men and women and we will all truly miss you.