John Reed in his first term, cr. 1980.

This holiday season will mark 20 years since our city lost one of my favorite council members, at age 40.

After 10 years on Renton City Council, he died doing one of the things he loved most of all– playing basketball at our own Renton Community Center.

Years later, when I asked retiring Fire Chief Lee Wheeler to name the most difficult emergency call of his career, without a pause he said it was the call to tend to Councilman Reed. Chief Wheeler’s eyes misted as he recalled being informed of the details while en route on the call– that his friend John was down, and the prognosis did not sound good.

Like many others, I’ll always remember John for his sense of humor, his smooth approach to legislating, and the gentle way he treated everyone.

When I had a beef with the council 22 years ago, John Reed (along with his colleague Dick Stedicke) gave me confidence we could find a way to work things out.

I was in California when John passed away, as Cathy and I had taken our kids to spend the holidays with grandparents. News did not travel as fast back then (there was no internet), so I did not know John had passed until I read it in the Renton paper the night I got back to town.

John Reed was also a Boeing supervisor in computing, and I had a close friend who worked for him in this roll. My friend remembered John very fondly, and said that at work he was known for the same gentle efficiency and playfulness that he brought to City Council. He said at work he was affectionately known as “Big John”– No doubt for his tall (6-foot 6 inch) stature and big heart.

John’s passing was a loss for our whole city, but most of all for the beautiful family he left behind. Off-duty fire fighter completed the tree house John had started for his two young children, and other families pitched in where they could to try to fill the giant void created by his passing.

John’s work still lives on in our city, and many of us still think of him often. I can hardly believe it has been 20 years since we said goodbye.

(I’ve attached the memorial from the Seattle Times below)

In very typical form, John Reed cracks up the rest of the council by putting bunny ears on Mayor Clymer for the official photograph.

Friday, January 5, 1990

Seattle Times: John Reed, Renton Councilman

By Anh Do

The death of Renton City Councilman John Reed, who collapsed of a heart attack while playing basketball Wednesday evening, shocked friends and family who remember him as an avid athlete and a devout family man. Reed was 40.

Firefighters were called to the Renton Community Center at 6:24 p.m., but could not revive Reed, who had no known health problems. Battalion Chief Ray Barilleaux said Reed died before he was transported to Valley Medical Center.

Reed, who studied urban and regional planning at Western Washington University, was a manager in Boeing Computing Services. He spent most of his life in Renton and was the council’s expert on environmental matters, council President Nancy Mathews said.

“More than any other person on the council, he had a love for the environment and he made use of that as watchdog over our land-use decisions,” Mathews said. “He had tremendous insight, a sense of humor and a great love of the city. He was a leader who found ways to disagree in a positive manner.”

Reed, a 10-year incumbent who ran unopposed in the November election, recently was appointed chairman of the council’s Planning and Community Development Committee.

Colleagues said Reed kept a low profile as a councilman. On the basketball court, however, he stood out.

He played on the Renton High School team that won state AAA championships in 1966 and ’67, then played varsity at Western Washington University.

“He was an animal – one fantastic basketball player,” said close friend Ron Clark, who knew Reed for 35 years. “Even at 40 he played like he was in high school.”

Cliff Komoto, another friend, described the 6-foot-6 Reed as a good sportsman who never lost his temper. “He was an excellent manager as well. People who worked with him like him because he was fair. He was a hard worker, but always happy.”

“He didn’t have a mean bone in his body,” said his wife, Darlene. “John was different from most people because he was very open-minded. He was the best father. And not a selfish person at all.”

Sevices will be held at 1 p.m. tomorrow in the Renton High School gymnasium where Reed spent hours playing basketball. Interment will be in Greenwood Memorial Cemetery in Renton.

In addition to his wife, Reed is survived by two children, Jenna, 2, and Devin, 4. Contributions may be made to the John Reed Memorial Fund, a college trust fund for the children, at the First Federal Savings and Loan Association, P.O. Box 360, Renton, 98057.

Katie has been steadily posting pictures, keeping an online journal, and video-conferencing with us (for free) over Skype. This great technology has really helped bridge the distance while she and her husband Brandon teach school in Japan.

Here are a couple recent pictures:

Katie and Brandon at a local park

Brandon with Kishiyo; Kishiyo has been like family since she stayed at our home as an exchange student in 2002

Maple Valley Highway closed due to an accident. Read the story HERE