Donald Rieck, Jr.

Donald Lee Rieck, Jr., 50, of Newtown Square, Pennsylvania passed away suddenly on December 28, 2017. His tragic loss is mourned by those who knew and loved him, especially his wife of 15 years, Holly (nee Sando), and his children, Donald Lee Rieck III (10) and Emily Joyce Rieck (8). He is also survived by his father, Donald L. Rieck, Sr. of Lakeland, Fl; his mother Denise A. Rieck of Clearwater, Fl.; his sister Nicole D. Rieck of Treasure Island, Fl.; and his brother Michael J. Rieck of Palm Beach Gardens, Fl. Don also leaves behind many nieces and nephews; as well as aunts, uncles, cousins, and countless friends. Preceding him in death was his beloved grandmother "Mom-Mom," Emilie Kulonda, of Pottsville, Pa.



Don was born on July 31, 1967 in Reno, Nevada. As the second of three children born to a touring musician, Don spent his first thirteen years traveling with his family across the country with his father's band. He and his siblings were homeschooled by their mother, and Don became an avid reader and spent several spring training seasons with his brother as ball boys for the Kansas City Royals. In 1986, Don graduated from Schuylkill Haven High School where he excelled in athletics as a varsity starter for both the football and baseball teams. He was recruited by Dickinson College, where he started as a defensive lineman for the football team and majored in political science. Two of Don's most cherished college memories include spending time with his Sigma Chi Fraternity brothers and being on Dickinson football's Centennial Championship team

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a team later inducted into the college's sports Hall of Fame. Don spent his junior year abroad in Bologna, Italy, where he immersed himself in the language, culture and cuisine of the country, intensifying his interests in education, cooking, and travel.



Don's educational successes were a product of his hard work both in and out of the classroom. He worked in a brick factory during his college summers, and while pursuing his Master's Degree in Political Science at Temple University, Don supported himself by tending bar at The Dickens Inn in Philadelphia. Don attracted customers who became good friends

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the kind that continuously returned to speak with the interesting, intellectual, and philosophical young man pouring cocktails and pulling draughts behind the bar.



After graduation, Don established his professional career in Philadelphia politics and public affairs. Don served as Assistant Policy Director for Sam Katz during his first run for Mayor of Philadelphia in 1999, a historic race in which the Republican candidate almost won the election in the predominantly Democratic city. As Assistant Director for the Committee on Arrangements for the Republic National Convention held in Philadelphia in August 2000, Don worked on the team coordinating preparation, logistics, and post-convention recovery activities. In 2001, Don relocated to Washington, DC where he was a research analyst in the Office of Economic and Strategic Analysis for the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS). An opportunity to work at Comcast coincided with his 2002 nuptials to Holly and Don returned to Philadelphia where he was special projects coordinator at the company's fraud prevention and loss department for almost five years. During this time Don also obtained an Executive M.B.A. from the Fox School of Business at Temple University.



In 2007, Don and Holly moved with their infant son Donny to Northern Virginia when Don became Executive Director and Managing Editor for the Center for Media and Public Affairs, and its affiliated organization, the Statistical Assessment Service. During his more than seven years at the organization that analyzes and identifies bias in print, digital, and broadcast journalism, Don continued to hone and enhance his skills in political, legislative, media, and public affairs, while adding to his statistical analysis acumen and experience in administrative and financial operations.



Most recently, Don was President of the American Spectator Foundation, as well as publisher of the conservative monthly magazine. In what would become the pinnacle of his career, Don's role as president drew upon the culmination of the varied breadth of his professional experience. It was here where Don's skills, talent and ability to visualize, conceptualize, theorize, and quantify complicated and editorially significant information were most recognized and appreciated.



Perhaps influenced by his unconventional and eclectic childhood, Don was a polymath, engaged in broad and diverse intellectual and cultural interests. Well-read, well-spoken, and affable, Don was a historian, scholar, political scientist, travel enthusiast, home-grown chef, and a leader. However, it was his family and his role as father to Donny and Emily for which he was most passionate. Don coached baseball teams for both of his children and enjoyed teaching Donny and Emily how to play chess, appreciate cuisine like sushi and pho, and develop a love for reading

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especially his most treasured tome, the Lord of the Rings. He was always outdoors with them - chopping down trees, playing in the pool, throwing a ball, or sledding.



Don will be remembered for his many great talents; not the least of which was his truly genuine hug. Gentle, jovial, articulate and loving, Don had a huge heart. It will continue to beat in our memory of him.



Relatives and friends are invited to his viewing Tuesday, January 2, 2018 from 6:00-9:00 PM at The Donohue Funeral Home, 366 W. Lancaster Avenue, Wayne, PA (610) 989-9600 and Wednesday, January 3, 2018 10:00 AM-11:00 AM at Our Mother of Good Counsel Church, 31 Pennswood Road, Bryn Mawr, PA and to his Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM. Interment private.



In lieu of flowers, contributions to The American Spectator, www.spectator.org would be appreciated.