Reginald Irvin Leister

Reginald I. Leister, 78, of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, passed away on June 29, 2026, at Manatawny Manor. He was the husband of Sarah J. (Stetler) Leister, with whom he shared 57 years of marriage.

Born in Pottstown on September 17, 1947, Reginald was the son of the late Irvin H. Leister and Margaret (Stabilit) Leister.

Reginald was a certified Consumer Credit Business Executive, having devoted 36 years to the consumer finance, credit and banking industry. He managed Beacon Loan Corp and their successor, Avco Financial Services. He was past president of the Tri-County Exchange and vice president of the Pottstown Credit Bureau and Mortgage Reporting Service. He retired from the former Patriot Bank in 2000, having served as team leader of Consumer Lending.

Reginald was active in the Boy Scouts of America, having served for 59 years in many leadership capacities: Cubmaster for Ringing Rocks Cub Scout Pack 479; Committee, Advancement, Board of Review Chairman and Charter Organization Representative for St. Aloysius Troop 249. He co-founded SPARK Lodge Technology Center at Camp Delmont in 1991 and was the Trustee for amateur radio station K3BSA. He was an Eagle Scout from Trappe Troop and Explorer Post 113.

An Extra Class amateur radio licensee, N3KAS, Reginald focused most of his efforts toward emergency communications and served Montgomery County's Department of Public Safety from 1988 as a volunteer radio operator for the Auxiliary Communications Service. He also established a Hospital Response Team and a backup emergency amateur radio station at the Pottstown Hospital (Tower Health). He additionally served on the Upper Pottsgrove Township Emergency Management Team, where he served as a Civil Service Commissioner for 14 years. He assisted the township in identifying, photographing and installing signage on all historical structures in the community and was a successful grant writer. He retired in 2014 after 34 years of service to the township.

Reginald was a member of the Pottstown Area Amateur Radio Club, where he served as an FCC Volunteer Examiner and club archivist. He also served as a Public Information Officer for the American Radio Relay League, the national organization for amateur radio. He was a trained Advanced Severe Weather Spotter for the National Weather Service's SKYWARN program. For 24 years, he supported the March of Dimes locally during their March for Babies walk-a-thons, as well as other local charitable and civic events, by coordinating emergency communications.

Some of Reginald's other interests included playing guitar, gardening, propagating dwarf fruit trees, electronics, woodworking, steam railroading, community activism and enjoying his grandchildren.

Reginald is lovingly remembered by his wife, Sarah; his children, Sandi Chieffo and her husband, Steven, of Birdsboro, PA; Staci Ong and her husband, Ron, of Schwenksville, PA; Ryan Leister and his wife, Jennifer, of Limerick, PA; and Sheri Freeman of West Pottsgrove Township, PA. He was a proud and loving grandfather to Salvatore Chieffo, Samantha Chieffo, Sydni Chieffo, Madeline Ong, Wesley Ong, Ethan Capetola, and Nolan Freeman. He is also survived by his sister, MaryAlice Leister of Ohio; a niece, two nephews, and several cousins.

Family and friends are invited to a viewing on Friday, July 3, 2026, from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. in the Gathering Center of Saint Aloysius Church, 223 Beech St., Pottstown, PA 19464. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m., followed by interment at Highland Memorial Park, 701 Farmington Ave., Pottstown, PA 19464.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to your favorite charity in honor of the Leister family.