John Stewart Reed, 88, died suddenly at his home in Cambridge, Massachusetts on Dec. 1, 2023, while packing to move to Boothbay Harbor, Maine.

He was born on Jan. 25, 1935 in Norwood, Massachusetts to Gordon and Cynthia Jane (Lepper) Reed. His father died early in his life, and he grew up on a farm in Walpole, Massachusetts with his mother
and sister, Cynthia.

In his younger years, he spent many summers in Southport, Maine, with his Aunt, Ruth Lepper Gardner, while he worked at the Goudy & Stevens Shipyard in East Boothbay, Maine. These summers led to a lifelong love of Southport, where he was a long-time member of the Southport Yacht Club. It was during one of these summers that he was fixed up on a blind date with Sue Welsh, whose family summered at their ancestral farm in Boothbay. They were married on Valentine’s Day, 1959.

John attended school in Walpole, and graduated from Harvard College in 1956, as well as the Harvard Graduate School of Design in 1958. Harvard was a lifelong passion, and he never missed a Harvard-Yale game if he could help it.

He went on to work for Arthur D. Little and Cambridge Systematics as an economist and consultant. His love of travel and adventure were piqued during this time, as he served as a consultant to many domestic and foreign governments. To his delight, he spent much time in England, and he adored both London and Stilton Cheese. Family lore recounts a tale of his flying to Boston from London at Christmas time with an entire Stilton stashed under his seat. He was not well-loved by his fellow passengers. His consulting duties also took him to Saudi Arabia, as well as Buffalo, New York, and
many places in between.  John was an avid student of history, and he appreciated his opportunities to travel the world and learn more.

John Reed was a man of many talents and passions. He loved genealogy and researching family histories, whether his own, his wife’s family, or come-by-lately in-laws. He was a true story-teller, and he loved a good party, whether attending or planning them. Some of his more memorable parties were in celebration of Sue’s publication of exhibition catalogs for the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, such as “Printmaking in the Age of the Musketeers” at the Higgins Armory; a celebration of the Magna Carta; and a celebration of the Carrie Winslow, a clipper ship owned and sailed by his great-grandfather-in-law at the Maine Maritime Museum in 2004. At the time he passed away, he was planning a party honoring family ancestors who were Pilgrims on the Mayflower.

In addition to his many accomplishments, John loved the sea and loved to sail. He could sail any kind of boat in any kind of weather, and he always knew exactly where he was, even in pea-soup fog. He was a beautiful dancer and figure-skater, and he was a long time member of the Cambridge Skating Club. He also loved fine woodworking.

John is survived – and will be sorely missed – by his wife of nearly 65 years, Sue Welsh Reed of St. Andrews Village in Boothbay Harbor, Maine, retired Curator of Prints and Drawings at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts. Also surviving are twin daughters Elizabeth Reed of Raleigh, North Carolina and Beatrice Reed of E. Windsor, Connecticut; grandsons Nick Reed and James Emmerling, both of New Hampshire; sister-in-law Martha Welsh Goldstone of Washington, D.C.; and brother-in-law John H. Welsh and his wife, Rebecca of Boothbay, Maine. Also surviving are nephews Gordon Workman (Stefanie); George Workman, and John Charles Workman (Sharon).

A memorial service will be held in the spring. The family also wishes to thank the many caregivers who were devoted to his well-being.