Rita Reif, Antiques and Auctions Columnist, Passes Away at the Age of 94 – The Gentleman Report
Renowned journalist Rita Reif has passed away at the age of 94. Her remarkable career spanned half a century and was dedicated to covering antiques and auctions for The New York Times. Reif’s insightful writing and investigative skills have captivated readers for generations. Her passion and commitment to the arts have left an indelible mark on the world of journalism.
In 1947, Reif began her career at The Times as a part-time stock table clerk for the financial section. Over the years, she worked her way up the ranks to become a prominent figure in the newspaper’s antiques and auctions coverage. Her writing prowess earned her thousands of bylines, and her contributions to the field of journalism will never be forgotten.
Reif’s work was not limited to the antiques and auctions beat. In 1956, she became a reporter in the women’s news department, where she covered home décor and related topics. Her curiosity and investigative skills led her to uncover stories such as the true origin of the Lincoln bed in the White House and the introduction of General Electric’s first self-cleaning oven.
In 1972, Reif took over the newspaper’s regular column on antiques, further solidifying her expertise in the field. Her tenacity and dedication to uncovering the truth were evident in her reporting as she made headlines in the late 1990s. Reif questioned the ownership of a valuable painting that was believed to have been stolen during the Nazi regime.
Reif passed away on June 16 in Washington, where she had been receiving hospice care for congestive heart failure and dementia. Her legacy as a journalist and pioneer in the world of antiques and auctions will continue to inspire and influence generations to come.
Rita Reif, a renowned journalist who dedicated her career to covering antiques and auctions for The New York Times, has died at the age of 94. In the late 1990s, she made headlines when she questioned the ownership of a valuable painting that was believed to have been stolen during the Nazi regime. Reif passed away on June 16 in Washington, where she had been receiving hospice care for congestive heart failure and dementia.
Reif started working part-time at The Times in 1947, initially pasting stock tables onto layout boards for the financial section. Over the years, she moved up the ranks and eventually became a prominent figure in the newspaper’s antiques and auctions coverage. Her writing career spanned half a century, accumulating thousands of bylines.
In 1956, she became a reporter in the women’s news department, where she wrote extensively on home décor and related topics. Reif’s curiosity and investigative skills led her to uncover stories such as the true origin of the Lincoln bed in the White House and the introduction of General Electric’s first self-cleaning oven. In 1972, she took over the newspaper’s regular column on antiques, further solidifying her expertise in the field.
