Al Reznik, former newsman, is buried in Covington

ALVIN “AL” CHARLES REZNIK, 77, a former newspaper reporter, radio news director and public relations executive, died on Thursday, September 12 after a lengthy illness.

Reznik’s lifelong career as a journalist and writer began in the Midwest near his hometown of Chicago. After his family moved from Illinois to South Haven, MI, Reznik developed a lifelong association with sports and writing. While still in high school himself, he became a sports reporter covering high school football games in Ypsilanti, nearly 150 miles away.

He later enrolled at the University of Michigan in the School of Journalism. It was while a student there in 1956 that he met his future wife Judith G. Reznik through mutual friends. They were married in 1957 and he graduated in early 1959. Throughout his college career, Reznik wrote for several newspapers including the local South Haven News. The couple soon moved to Chicago, where he began his work for the Lerner chain of newspapers throughout the region. Reznik’s writing got him noticed by WGN Radio, where he was hired as a copy writer and news director. Although he rarely was on air, he did produce occasional broadcast segments for United Press International (UPI). Reznik was also the treasurer of the Illinois Newspapers Association.

His love of sports led him to become a coach with the Pop Warner football league as well as with itty bitty soccer teams. Oftentimes his wife would accompany him as a coach. Reznik was also a member of the Parent Teachers Organization in Hoffman Estates, IL and was president of the Lions Club.

Eventually, he became an executive with Rafilson Public Relations in Chicago. However, when his wife’s health became impaired in 1976, Reznik moved to the Phoenix, AZ area, where he and his family resided for 35 years. While in Arizona, Reznik excelled as a public relations figure and continued his football coaching. He was a member of the board of Temple Israel in Phoenix and Scottsdale, AZ and was named the board member of the year in 1999-2000. He also wrote for the Glendale Star and Peoria News newspapers in Arizona and composed articles for public relations for his temple..

A painful back injury required Reznik to consider moving again in 2011, which he did with his wife, relocating in Slidell to be near his daughter and her family. While living there he became affiliated with the Northshore Jewish Congregation and conducted public relations work for them as well.

Reznik is survived by his wife of 57 years Judith; son Mitchell Reznik (Wassana) of Bangkok, Thailand; daughters Jerilyn Deane (Thomas) of Venese, Italy; Dana Campbell of Mesa, AZ.; and Heidi Reznik Teadt (Troy) of Slidell; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Services were held on Friday, September 12 at 2:00 p.m. at Northshore Jewish Congregation with burial immediately following at Pinecrest Memorial Gardens in Covington, LA.

Memorial donations are suggested to the Northshore Jewish Congregation, 1403 North Causeway Boulevard, Mandeville, LA. 70471 or to the Kidney Foundation of Louisiana.