John Thomas Reid, beloved husband, father, grandfather, veteran, businessman, and friend, passed away peacefully on July 2, 2026, surrounded by his loved ones and fortified by the Sacraments of the Church. He was 82 years old. Born on April 19, 1944, in Providence, Rhode Island. John was the youngest of three children of Catherine Quinn Reid and Owen Philip Reid, Esc.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 45 years, Susanne Henry Reid. He also leaves behind three children, Janette Henry Reid Macaulay (Dr. Robert), Barbara Henry Reid Quinlan (Rick), and Michael Henry Reid (Karla), along with five grandchildren: Dr. Charles Macaulay, Hannah Macaulay, Caroline Macaulay, Henry Jackson Quinlan and William Quinlan (Claire). John was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Eleanor Reid Kelly, and his brother Owen Philip Reid, Jr.
John attended Classical High School and Portsmouth Priory, Class of ‘62, where his natural leadership was evident as captain of the ice hockey and baseball teams. Following his graduation from Providence College, Class of ‘66, he served as Second Lieutenant in the US Army as a Military Police Officer at Ft. Huachuca, Arizona. After an Honorable Discharge from the Army, John began a long and successful career in the medical device industry. Over the course of his professional life, John held leadership positions at Valleylab, Colin Medical, UltraCision, and Megadyne Medical Products. This journey took John and his family from the shores of Rhode Island to the mountains of Colorado, to the hill country of Texas, and finally back to Aquidneck Island where John retired in 2008.
Retirement gave John the opportunity to devote himself fully to doing what he loved most. He took great pride in beautifying the lawns and gardens of his Middletown, Rhode Island estate, affectionally known as “Broadlawn.” John believed deeply in giving back to the institutions and causes that shaped his life, his generosity extended far beyond his favorite Aquidneck Island Philanthropies. John was an active member in the Newport Reading Room and Quindecim.
John will be remembered for his kindness, quiet generosity, his love for social events, and his devotion to his family. His legacy lives on in the countless lives he touched through friendship and service.
Visiting hours will be held Thursday, July 9 from 4:00-7:00pm at the O’Neill-Hayes Funeral Home, 465 Spring St, Newport. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, July 10 at 10:00 am, St. Mary’s Church, corner of Spring St & Memorial Blvd, Newport. A private interment will be held in the generational Reid Family plot at St. Ann’s Cemetery in Cranston, RI.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to Visiting Nurse Home & Hospice www.VisitingNurseHH.org.
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