Thomas Reid

Thomas J. Reid passed away at his home in Mayfield Heights, Ohio, on September 17, 2014. He was 81. He died peacefully with his family and his beloved wife of 58 years, Dorothy, at his side.

He was born on June 21, 1933, to Richard Reid and Katherine O’Leary Reid in Augusta, Georgia. His family moved to New Rochelle, New York, in 1943, when his father, Richard Reid, a prominent Catholic journalist, accepted a position as editor of the Catholic News, the newspaper published by the Archdiocese of New York.

Mr. Reid’s pre-college years were spent at the family home in New Rochelle. After graduating from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1955 he was commissioned an Ensign, USNR as a member of the Naval Reserve Officers Training Program. He married Dorothy (Moran) Reid in 1956 and they had five children – Anne Galletta (Larry) of Cleveland, Ohio; Mary Reid of East Hampton, New York; Thomas Reid (Leslie) of Woodbury, New York; William Reid (Jan) of Germantown, Tennessee; and Katherine Reid of San Jose, Costa Rica.

Mr. Reid completed Naval Air Training and for four years served as a naval aviator in Air Anti-Submarine Squadron 27 operating from aircraft carriers in the North Atlantic and Caribbean Seas. He was released from active duty in February 1959 but remained in the Naval Air Reserve flying out of Naval Air Station New York and started a career with Grumman Aerospace Corporation in Bethpage, Long Island, New York. He earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration at the Arthur Roth Graduate School of Business, Long Island University, through the Grumman program of Continuing Education and had a 36 year career with the company, working in Flight Test Operations, Systems Analysis, Aircraft Project Management, and Corporate Management Development.

During his career with Grumman on Long Island he was active in community services, including coordination of Retired and Senior Volunteers , Food Pantry volunteer services, and Eucharistic Ministry and Lector services in his local parishes.

In his spare time, Mr. Reid enjoyed walks with his retrievers, Kris-T and Bonnie. He was an ardent NY Giants football fan and enjoyed golfing. From time to time he composed short stories that captured his depth of understanding of the complexity of human lives.

Mr. Reid is survived by his devoted wife Dorothy, their five loving children and ten grandchildren -Julia, Leanne and Clare Galletta, Amanda and Devin Reid, Severine Sara Reid, Thomas and Meghan Reid, and Donna and Joseph Palanza.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM, Monday, September 22, 2014, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 6580 Mayfield Rd., Gates Mills, Ohio. Family will receive friends to pay tribute to and celebrate the life of Thomas at THE DeJOHN-FLYNN-MYLOTT FUNERAL HOME OF WILLOUGHBY HILLS, 28890 CHARDON ROAD (between Bishop Rd. and Rt. 91) SUNDAY 6-8 PM.