Deanie E. Reinhardt

Deanie Emilie Crelling was born on June 3, 1943, in Philadelphia, PA, to Margaret Fisher Crelling and Gerard Crelling, along with older brother Jack (John Crawford Crelling). 

The family moved to Wilmington, Delaware, where Deanie grew up. She graduated from the University of Delaware in 1965 and while a student met her future husband Jim (James) Reinhardt. They had three children, Brown, Connie, and John. Deanie and Jim moved to East Derry, NH, in 1972 where they raised their children before they divorced, and Deanie set about turning the several acres of land into beautiful gardens. Gardening and teaching English were her passions and she spent many decades teaching at Pinkerton Academy in Derry, getting her students to appreciate literature, develop a love of poetry, and become strong writers. Robert Frost, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Henry David Thoreau and others came to life in her class and she was beloved by many of her students. She delighted in traveling and introducing young people to new places and took many groups of students on trips to Boston, New York City, Newport Rhode Island, and France, England, and Italy.

Liberal causes were dear to Deanie’s heart as she was passionate about Democratic politics. She worked on several presidential campaigns and New Hampshire governor campaigns, starting with Jimmy Carter’s unlikely run for the presidency. She came out of political retirement to support Barack Obama, and her phone message “Happy days are here again!” was a reference to a presidential victory.She loved dogs and Brittany spaniels in particular, and raised many over the years including Katie, Elizabeth, Jean Louise, Annabel, and her current dog Scout. She was happiest working in her gardens with her dog by her side, and then coming in to have tea and lemon bread with friends or former students who would stop by.Deanie was a devoted grandmother to Amber, Aaron, Austin and her youngest grandchild Aspen. She will be missed by her children, grandchildren and many friends.

There will be a service at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Londonderry, on Saturday, June 20th, at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Blood Cancer United (formerly Leukemia and Lymphoma Society) or your favorite liberal cause.