Reiss Price Tatum

Reiss Price Tatum, known as “Spud” to many old friends and family, was born in Brooklyn, New York on February 18, 1940, and died peacefully with his wife, Cathie, by his side in Jacksonville, Florida on July 20, 2023 after a long battle living with pulmonary fibrosis and ischemic heart disease.

Reiss attended elementary school in Tucson, Arizona while living on a boys’ ranch and middle school and high school at Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia. He graduated from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and was a member of Theta Delta Chi fraternity. Having completed the US Marine Corps Officer Candidate Program while in college, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Regular Marine Corps. He spent the next six and a half years as an infantry officer. His assignments included Quantico, Virginia; Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii; USS Intrepid, Norfolk, Virginia; combat company commander, Vietnam (Bronze Star with combat “V”, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, and other unit awards); and the Director of Sea School, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California. In 1967, during his assignment as the Director of Sea School, he married Catherine Sirney, whom he met while stationed in Hawaii.

After leaving the Marine Corps in 1968 to pursue a career in business, Reiss spent most of the next thirty-one years in the chain restaurant industry before starting and operating his own executive recruiting company in 1999 and retiring in 2010. In that year, Reiss was implanted with a cardiac ventricular assist device (LVAD) enabling him to survive many years beyond expectations. Reiss described his life from childhood, through Vietnam combat, business career, medical challenges, and spiritual awakening in his book Not an Ordinary Life.

Reiss was known for the many meaningful relationships he fostered through his devotion to the Marine Corps, fellowship at the church, and dedication to his family.

Reiss lived his life as a Marine. He was a member, and officer, of the Jacksonville Semper Fidelis Society, attended Lima 3/5 and Kbay reunions, and had his door open to Marines that needed help. Having been a combat Marine officer, he never lost that sense of commitment, responsibility, and respect for a fellow Marine. “Once a Marine, always a Marine.”

His dedication and sense of commitment were also evident in his church life. In 1996, Reiss and Cathie joined Mandarin Presbyterian Church and for the next 27 years, he was involved in many aspects. Throughout the years he served as a Stephen Minister and Deacon, launched and taught Career Transition Workshop, participated in the men’s bible study and Kevin’s men’s group, attended CLC, and attended and volunteered for Great Banquet. His service to the church brought him peace and meaningful friendships.

He is survived by Catherine Sirney Tatum, his wife of 56 years; his son Hunter Tatum and his son, Carter, with Kris Tatum; his daughter Heather Tatum and her children, Ashton and Winsland, with husband Brian Paull. He was proceeded in death by his father, William M Tatum, Sr., his mother, Dorothy L Clark Tatum, and his brother, William M Tatum, Jr.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to:

www.communityhospice.com

www.t2t.org

www.k9sforwarriors.org

or your choice of veterans’ organization

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hgmandarin.com for the Tatum family.