Obituary

Clarence H. Reed II of Ithaca, a retired lecturer and administrator at Cornell, died March 6 at Cayuga Medical Center. He was 75.

Reed was born Sept. 5, 1928, in New Orleans, the son of Clarence H. and Jersey J Reed, now deceased.

He was a graduate of Grambling State University and Louisiana State University. He began his career as a teacher in the St. Helena Parish School District in Greensburg, La. For 30 years he led a distinguished career as teacher, community leader and civil rights activist.

He began a second career in 1972 at Cornell. During his Cornell years, he was director of the Committee on Special Educational Projects (COSEP) and instructor in the Department of Human Service Studies in the College of Human Ecology. He retired in 1994.

His Ithaca community service affiliations of over 16 years included the Ithaca Planning Board and the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency.

Reed was a devoted, active member of the National African-American RVers Association, New York Ravens chapter.

He is survived by his wife of 15 years, Beverly J.C. Reed, and his sister, Joycelyn Hart of Ithaca. He married Eunice Paddio in 1949 and to this union, five children were born. He is survived by sons Clarence Reed III of Columbus, Ohio, Henry Reed of Cavite City, Philippines, and Bertrand Reed of Ithaca, as well as daughter Cecile Reed-Randolph of Keller, Texas. His daughter Deidre Reed-Dyson predeceased him.

He also is survived by grandsons Jason Booker of Ruston, La., Rashaad Dyson of Virginia, Doreal Reed, Matthew Reed and Jerel Stewart of Columbus, Ohio, and B. Johnathan Reed II of Ithaca; granddaughters Monica Hutto of England; Mariah Reed-Fontenot and Deardre Randolph of Keller, Texas; and great-grand-children Shanequa Dies and Jada Booker of Ruston, La.; stepchildren Wells and James Didlick of Cincinnati, Julie Didlick of Columbus, Ohio, Gail Chavis of Cincinnati, and Jesse Chavis and Myles and Leah Didlick of Columbus, as well as several cousins, nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 20, at 2 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 315 Cayuga St., Ithaca, with the Rev. Barry Downing officiating. Internment will be April 17 at 11 a.m. at the Mount Olivet Cemetery in New Orleans.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the local chapter of the Kidney Foundation or a local charity of one's choice.