Pennsylvania House holds moment of silence for the late Mike Reese, who was to have been sworn in today for 7th term

State Rep. Mike Reese was memorialized on the floor of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on Tuesday, the day he was supposed to have been sworn in to his seventh two-year term.

A black cloth, framed photograph and what appeared to be a jersey with his last name and H59 — signifying his 59th House Legislative District — sat in the room at the Capitol in Harrisburg. Reese, 42, died Saturday following an apparent brain aneurysm.

A moment of silence was held in his honor at the start of the ceremony. He was set to begin serving in a new role as the Republican Party majority caucus leader.

State Rep. Jesse Topper, R-Bedford, said Reese was looking forward to getting started in his new position. He said Reese’s legacy will run a gamut — mentor for fellow Republican representatives, tireless advocate for those in his district, devoted father, loving husband and a “superior athlete” at the Harrisburg charity softball game.

“These are all appropriate legacies for this great man,” Topper told fellow House members.

He described Reese as a “trusted friend” with whom he spent time while they were in Harrisburg working and on the phone when they weren’t.

“I can hear that typical Reese way of ending a conversation: ‘All right brother, I’ll catch you later,’ ” Topper said. “He was there for me for good and plenty of bad. There’s no one else you would want to have your back than Mike Reese, and he had mine.”

Reese of Mt. Pleasant Township was reelected in November to represent residents in parts of Westmoreland and Somerset counties. He first took office in 2009.

In the past few days, Westmoreland County community members, family and neighbors have put up Reese’s green-and-white campaign signs as a show of support. A group of friends is preparing to distribute 1,000 yard signs throughout the community that express gratitude for Reese’s work as state legislator.

#PAHouse Swearing-In Ceremony begins with a moment of silence to remember Rep. Mike Reese (R-Westmoreland) who passed away suddenly last weekend

— PA House Republicans ?? (@PAHouseGOP) January 5, 2021

“We were all shocked and deeply saddened by the untimely passing of our friend and colleague, majority caucus chairman Mike Reese,” said Dave Reddecliff, House chief clerk, at the start of the swearing in ceremony. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mike’s wife, Angela, his three children and their family.”

Washington County Judge Brandon Neuman said he talked a lot with Reese when they were state representatives. Neuman, a Democrat, told freshman lawmakers before administering the oath of office they should strive to be like Reese.

“No matter where we were — left, right, middle, I knew how his family was doing … I knew him,” Neuman said. “Mike Reese, to your family, we love you, we are with you, our thoughts and prayers are with you.”

State Rep. Joanna McClinton, D-Delaware/Philadelphia, included Reese and his family in a prayer at the start of the ceremony.

“We pray that you be with his family right now who was planning to be here for a joyous day,” she said.

Reese, who was unopposed in November’s election, contracted the coronavirus in early December. Flags stood at half-staff Monday outside his Norvelt office.

House members took the oath in four groups to limit potential coronavirus exposure.