Dr. Sidney G. Reed Jr.

REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF DR. SIDNEY G. REED JR.

Dr Sidney G. Reed Jr, aged 99, of Trumbull CT, passed away on Tuesday, Feb 16th, 2021 at his home at Middlebrook Farms Assisted Living. He is survived by his stepson George Cowan of South Carolina and daughters Jacqueline Jacobs of Fairfield CT, Monica Reed of Bridgeport CT, along with many grandchildren and great grandchildren.  He was predeceased by his first wife, Eleanor Merrill Reed, his second wife, Betty Cowan Reed, and his oldest daughter, Mary Elizabeth Reed.

Dr. Reed was born in New Orleans LA on July 3, 1921. As a child he lived through the great Depression. He attended Loyola University in New Orleans as an undergrad and math major and received his masters from Notre Dame in math as well. He joined the Navy during World War 11, and served as a Lieutenant from June 1943 to July 1946 as an Airborne Radio Radar Officer. He was on the ship the " Shamrock Bay", and served in the Philippines Campaign Invasion of Iowa Jima, the Battle of Okinawa and Operation Magic Carpet. He received 3 Navy Stars for his service.  After the war he spent time in Boston while completing his doctorate in physics at MIT. While living in Boston he met his first wife, Eleanor Merrill, and after marrying and moving to the Washington DC area they raised their three daughters while he established his career as an esteemed scientist and researcher, first working at the Naval Ordance Lab in White Oak before joining the Office of Naval Research, rising to the position of Physical Science Advisor and then Research Advisor. In 1967 he left ONR for an appointment with the National Science Foundation as Head of Planning and Policy Studies. In November of 1972 he accepted a position as Science Director at Hydronautics. Shortly after this time he returned to work at the Office of Naval Research, in the position of Assistant Chief Scientist and rose to become the Head Science Advisor to the Chief of Naval Research, receiving the Navy Superior Civilian Service Award and the Distinguished Civilian Service Award. He also served on the faculty of Georgetown University as a teacher of Astrophysics. 

After his retirement, Dr. Reed continued to be called upon for his sage advice and expertise, consulting for the National Academy of Sciences and the National Science Foundation well into his 80's. 

Dr. Reed was a devout Catholic whose faith informed every aspect of his daily life. He attended Mass and Rosary Services as frequently as possible and contributed to many Catholic charities. He was always involved in the local church community wherever he lived and was known for his prayer and religious study through the last days of his life. In Maryland he and Betty were dedicated members of the Holy Cross Parish. In CT he attended Mass due to the kind dedication of the Connor family at the parish of St. Anthony in Fairfield CT.  

While accomplishing the complex tasks involved with his work in physics, Dr. Reed was a strict and loving father to his 3 daughters. He was dedicated to his family life and always enjoyed the antics of his children and their various pets, which included ducks, goldfish, and a dachshund. On vacations in Cape Cod he loved to build dams instead of sandcastles, and would often be seen making scientific calculations with his cryptic handwriting while watching waves at Duxbury beach. 
He supported his daughter’s interests and was determined to have them experience a normal childhood as their mother became seriously ill. He took them horseback riding, to father daughter dances, and to ballet lessons throughout this very challenging period of time in their lives and always made them feel safe and loved. Dr. Reed also loved music and would sing with his family on a regular basis.

Following the death of his first wife Eleanor, Dr. Reed was fortunate to find happiness again with Betty Cowan, who was the widow of another physicist, Dr. Clyde L Cowan. Jr.  When he married Betty, Sidney became an instant grandfather and great grandfather. Their home in Maryland was the center of years of beautiful gatherings, and he delighted in having a large extended family. Betty and Sid eventually moved to Beaufort South Carolina at the age of 89 shortly after the death of his oldest daughter, Mary Elizabeth in 2011 to be closer to his stepson, George Cowan. Following Betty's passing in late 2011 he moved to Trumbull CT where he resided at Middlebrook Farms in Trumbull. 

He lived the remaining 10 years of his life joyfully in the company of his two daughters, Jacqueline and Monica, and his grandchildren Lilli and Daniel who loved to visit, listen to his stories while going on walks, celebrate holidays, and go  out to eat in the local Fairfield area. He was even able to go to the theater to see his granddaughter Lilli perform professionally in musical theater, which fulfilled a cherished dream held by his daughter Jacqueline. He enjoyed taking walks along St. Mary’s By the Sea in Bridgeport near the home of his daughter Monica.  During this time he continued to read, pray and study voraciously, and gave lectures on books about World War 11 to the residents of his facility until the age of 98. He had a total hip replacement, a fractured pelvis and several other hospital stays during this 10 year period but managed to rebound and thrive each time, to the delight and amazement of his family.  If you had the chance to sit next to him, he would regale you with his stories about growing up during the Depression, World War 11, and his career as a physicist, but was extremely humble about his accomplishments. He was loved and appreciated by the staff at Middlebrook Farms who were always impressed by his kindness and generosity towards them.

Dr. Reed will be deeply missed by his family and all who knew him. As a man of faith, an esteemed physicist and researcher, and as a loving father and grandfather, he made a significant impact on people he met with his humble, gentle, and extremely intelligent presence.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, Feb 27th at 11:30 am at St. Theresa's in Trumbull, CT.  

5301 Main Street Trumbull, CT. 06611.

Livestream of the mass is available on the Church website; go to St. Theresa's Trumbull.org and click on the Banner.

In lieu of flowers, family and friends are invited to donate in his memory to the following charities : 

          Society of the Little Flower  - https:// www.little flower.org

           Capuchin Franciscans Province of St. Mary  https://www.capuchin.org/contact/

           St. Joseph’s Indian School   https://www.stjo.org/

A Buddhist memorial celebration will be held on Saturday March 6th at 5 pm online via Zoom. 

Copy and paste this link into your browser to join. 

          https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85969064973?pwd=ajF1QzVleXlodldZOHdZUnBsYzQxUT09

 A  graveside service and interment at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery will be held in late June with the date to be announced.  Arrangements have been entrusted to the Cyril F. Mullins Funeral Home, 399 White Plains Rd. Trumbull.

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