Deceased December 23, 1994

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In Memory

Harry Fielding Reid II, of Madison, Wis., died of an embolism on Friday, Dec. 23, 1994. He was born in Salem, Mass., on May 11, 1945, the son of Dorian F. ’38 and Betty S. Reid. He was a graduate of Joel Barlow High School in Easton, Conn.

At Amherst, Harry was a member of DKE for a while and majored in American studies. After graduating from Amherst in 1967, he received his M.A. in history from the University of Wisconsin. He served in the U.S. Army in the military police at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., from 1968 to 1970, and quickly rose to sergeant (E-6) and turned down a direct commission. He returned to the UW to get his Ph.D. in history in 1973. He also took courses in botany and, at different levels, studied five languages.

Harry had been a librarian-cataloguer at the University of Wisconsin’s Memorial Library since January 1973. He founded the Phoenix Film Society at UW, was active in the Dunns-Marsh Neighborhood Association and was a union activist in both the Wisconsin State Employees Union and the Wisconsin Education Association Council. Herbert Tepper ’43, who knew Harry, wrote that Harry also did work for the State Historical Society of Wisconsin and noted that his service was well attended. Services were held at Prairie Unitarian Universalist Society in Madison Dec. 29, after which a pass-a-dish, potluck dinner was served. He is survived by his parents; his sister, Alice R. Abbott; and nieces Sally N. and Laurel S. Abbott.

The obituary in the Madison paper noted, “Harry touched many of our lives and was loved. He is remembered for his generosity of heart and spirit. His concern for the preservation of the land and the welfare of animals was displayed through his creative landscaping and his care of many animal friends. He will be missed by neighbors, his co-workers and the many friends he had through his various associations. Peace, Harry.” Our condolences to his father and especially to his mother, who is unfortunately hospitalized with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease).

L. Edward Lucaire ’67