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Alfred Sheldon "Duke" Reed Jr.
EXETER — Alfred Sheldon "Duke" Reed Jr., 83, died Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009, at Langdon Place of Exeter.
Mr. Reed was born Aug. 2, 1926, in Westfield, N.J., the son of Alfred S. and Jenn (Winslow) Reed.
He was raised in Westfield and at a young age enlisted in the United States Navy. He served in the Pacific Theater during World War II as a radioman aboard the USS Wasp (CV-18).
He and his wife of nearly 55 years, the late Nancy (Snell) Reed, raised their children in Metuchen, N.J., Hopkinton, Mass., and Bedford Village, N.Y. He and Nancy retired to their 1806 farm house in Danbury, where he enjoyed country living and hosting large family reunions and holiday parties.
He is survived by his children, Alfred S. Reed III of Mahopac, N.Y., Kristin Reed of Pownal, Vt., Tracey Szajgin of Reston, Va., Jennifer Bousley of Epping and Katharine Wright of Pittsford, N.Y.; eight grandchildren, four step-grandchildren and his sister, Katharine Reed Graft of Savannah, Ga.
WE REMEMBER: After the service, Duke earned his B.S. in physics from Lafayette College.
He was employed for 35 years by McGraw-Hill Publishing Company as salesman, sales manager and publisher for Chemical Engineering and as import salesman for Business Week publications.
Duke was an avid outdoorsman who loved passing on his outdoor skills. His avocations included hunting, shooting, fishing, skiing and wood-working. Duke enjoyed financial investing and supporting numerous civic organizations including youth clubs, community groups and school boards. Duke participated in local politics, most recently serving as a Danbury selectman. He was a 50-year Freemason. Duke was well-known and appreciated for helping people in business, his family and in his community.
Duke was a gifted and engaging conversationalist and could always be counted on for a lively exchange on topics of mutual interest. The son of a Vaudeville song-and-dance man, he loved to make others smile with his sharp and insightful wit.
His family feels especially blessed to have had the opportunity in the last years of his life to learn more of him through his story-telling and reminiscing. He is loved and already greatly missed.
"If I can help somebody as I travel along my way, then my living is not in vain."
A memorial celebration of Duke's life will be held for family and friends in the spring of 2010. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to: Campfire Conservation Fund, 230 Campfire Road, Chappaqua, NY 10514, or the Upper Valley Humane Society, 300 Old Route 10, Enfield, NH 03748 (info @uvhs.org.)
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A memorial celebration of Duke's life will be held for family and friends in the spring of 2010.
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