Obituary of Richard Reid

Richard Gavin Reid Passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 in Toronto, Ontario. At his side were his beloved wife of 63 years and best friend, Shirley (MacDonald), and his devoted family, sons James of Toronto and Donald (Julie) of Greenwich, Connecticut, and daughters, Shirley Reid Howell (H.D.), Barbara Reid, both of Toronto, and Cathy Reid Stranberg (James) of Weston, Massachusetts. He is lovingly remembered by his grandchildren James and Stuart Reid, Cheyne and Richard Reid and Maude, James and Olivia Stranberg. Dick is survived by his sisters Flora Maher and Kathleen Hunter (Gordon). He is predeceased by his parents, Richard Gavin and Marion Stuart Reid; his in-laws, Walter Augustus and Maude Johnson MacDonald, his brothers Stuart and James. Dick and his identical twin James were born on December 11, 1922 in Edmonton, Alberta. Like his brothers, Dick served in the RCAF in WWII and late in the war, he and all but one of his Halifax bomber crew-mates parachuted to safety near Hanover, Germany where they were eventually captured and interned as POW's until liberated. After the war, he returned to Edmonton and began to build the foundations of his wonderful life. First he married Shirley, his childhood sweetheart, and then he enrolled at the University of Alberta and graduated as a chemical engineer. Fresh out of university, Dick began a long and distinguished career with Imperial Oil and Exxon Corporation. Promotions led him from Edmonton to Sarnia in 1956, to Toronto in '63, to New York in '67, back to Toronto in '69, to London, England in '75 and finally to Mendham, New Jersey in '86. Following his retirement in 1988 as President of Exxon International, he and Shirley divided their time between London, Bermuda and Victoria. Later, they returned to Toronto to be closer to their family. They have also maintained a home at John's Island Club in Vero Beach, Florida. Dick led a full life but also believed that it was important to give back to the community. He was a former Chairman of Ryerson University, Chairman of the Mendelssohn Choir and Chairman of the Red Shield Campaign for Salvation Army in Toronto. A celebration of his remarkable life will be held in the New Year. Condolences and memories may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com.