Charles Reed

Charles Norman Reed #570 (5/18/1938 – 2/22/2010): Brother Reed, a Golden Cross recipient, passed to the Adytum on High on Feb. 22 in Rochester, N.Y., at age 71.

Reed was an engineer by trade and worked for defense contractors in southern California and for Xerox and EDS in upstate New York as an information technology manager before retiring.

Reed’s friends from Upsilon include Doug Frank and Herb Fish. He was in Air Force ROTC on campus, and also met his future wife, Pat, who was a Sigma Kappa, while at UCLA. They were married for 48 years.

In those days, the chapter had a dog, Brutus, a German shepherd, who would sleep outside Pat’s apartment (which was across the street) and walk with her to her student job at the elementary school on campus. The two married in 1962 while at UCLA.

Reed was an English major and his first job was as a technical writer at Northrop, and the new family lived in Manhattan Beach. He taught himself computer programming in the “punchcard” days, which allowed him to work up to future jobs in information technology.

The Reeds and their two children enjoyed the outdoors, including hiking and biking in Palos Verdes and trips to Yosemite and Kings Canyon. Reed was quiet but very involved with his children and family. He served as a scout leader for 10 years, as his son became an Eagle Scout and a grandson joined the Cub Scouts.

Reed’s wife, Pat, can be contacted at (585) 385-1257.