Alan Reid

Alan Joseph Reid, 93, entrepreneur and philanthropist from Chagrin Falls died suddenly on Thursday, October 9, 2014 at Ahuja Medical Center in Beachwood, after a brief respiratory illness. His wife of 67 years, Corinne, was at his side.

Born on July 3, 1921 in Pittsburgh PA, the third of four children of Lillian and Joseph Reid, he outlived his three siblings Edward, Mary and Eleanor. For four years, starting at the age of 14, Alan was the sole support of his mother, younger sister and grandmother following the departure of his father. Alan delivered the morning Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to more than 100 customers and worked evenings as an usher at a local movie theater. At age 16, he learned to drive, bought a used truck and began making deliveries for the local grocery, hardware and drug stores.

While going to high school and carrying out these jobs, he earned the rank of Eagle Scout, of which he was so proud and lead the Wolf Patrol to numerous first place prizes at the Boy Scout jamborees.

He graduated from Carrick High School in Pittsburgh in 1939 and began his business career at Diamond Alkali Company as a buyer in the purchasing department. A member of the greatest generation, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and served with distinction on a B-17 nose-gunner, flying 34 bombing missions with the 8th Air Force over Nazi-occupied Europe. He was awarded the Air Medal with four clusters for his combat service and was honorably discharged in 1945.

After the war, he resumed his career with Diamond Alkali where he met and courted Corinne Meder. Her mother liked Alan immediately and by Corinne’s own admission, her mom was “a tough woman to please.” He and Corinne wed on August 16, 1947 at St. Bernard Church in Pittsburgh. They settled in Cleveland where Diamond’s corporate offices were moved. They lived in Timberlake, where Alan served as a village coucilman, in charge of finance. Corinne and Alan’s family grew to include six children – all girls – each a college graduate.

After living in Timberlake for 26 years, Alan and his family moved to Moreland Hills and then to Gates Mills. Their final move was to Chagrin Falls in 2007.

While at Diamond he along with a chemist pioneered a process behind the stabelized anode, one of his proudest achievements. And while he described the process and its significance to his family on numerous occasions, they, to this day, have no good idea what it is.

After 26 years at Diamond, he left at age 49 to join Man-Gill Chemical Co. in Euclid as vice-president before acquiring the company and becoming CEO. Man-Gill was sold to PPG Industries in 1997.

During his career, he served as Chairman of the Chemical Specialties and Management Council, a national trade organization composed of presidents of privately owned specialty chemical companies. Alan attended Duquesne University, Fenn College and the Business School of Harvard University.

Alan was a member of the Cleveland Athletic Club, Hillbrook Club and Mayfield Country Club. He and Corinne were also members of St. Francis of Assisi, St. Anselm and St. Joan of Arc parishes.

A great fan of all Cleveland sports teams, he was a long-time ticket holder of the Browns and Cavaliers. He was a shrewd poker player, an avid reader and theater-goer. He generously donated to the Republican Party causes as well as to Catholic Charities, the Cleveland Playhouse, the American Heart Association, Womankind, and the Cleveland Sight Center. Alan served on the governing boards of the Playhouse and the Sight Center. His hobbies included feeding “his” wild birds and building fires in the fireplace.

In 1989 he and Corinne established the Reid Foundation to perpetuate their values and interests to support organizations which promote community health, welfare, and education, primarily in Northeastern Ohio. The Reid Foundation made the largest single contribution ever to the Cleveland Sight Center, which, in 2013, named the children’s services wing in Corinne and Alan’s honor.

Alan’s was a life well-meant and well spent. He is survived by his wife Corinne and by daughters Alison of Long Beach CA; Nancy of Washington D.C.; Evelyne Romer of Geneva Switzerland; Marilyn (Richard) Busch of Westlake OH; Lois (Honorable Ronald W.) Folino of Fox Chapel, PA; and Angela (William) James of Chautauqua NY and London, England; and eight grandchildren: Gillian, Felicia, Katherine, Alice, Andrea, Jeffrey, Kevin and Reid and Lena (deceased).

Relatives and friends are requested to meet for the Mass of Christian burial to celebrate his extraordinary life at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 496 E. Washington St., Chagrin Falls, OH 44022 on Monday, October 13 at 10 a.m. with brunch to follow in the parish hall. Private burial will take place with Military Honors at All Souls Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by DeJohn Funeral Home, 28890 Chardon Road, Willoughby Hills, OH 44092. The family will receive visitors on Sunday, October 12, from 4 to 6 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Alan’s memory to The American Heart Association and the Cleveland Sight Center.