Dick Reed Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Daniel Marvin (Dick) Reed, 79, died in Swannanoa, NC, Saturday, January 15, 2022. Born in Rock Hill, SC, he was the son of the late Daniel M. Reed, Sr. and Sara C. Reed of Clemson, SC. He is survived by his wife, Joan W. Reed. He also is survived by his son, Danny Reed (Alison Moore) of Asheville, NC, and daughters, Dixie Reed (Chris Beyer) of Durango, CO; Sara Jane Klingaman (Greg) of Amsterdam, Netherlands; Carey McKinley (Mark Gross) of Boston, MA; and Laura Spriggs (Paul) of Decatur, GA. He leaves behind his grandchildren: Liam Reed, Nora and Reed Beyer, Lily, Anna and William Klingaman, Ellie and Nick Spriggs. Dick also is survived by his sister, Dixie G. Goswami (Bhuvenesh) and his nephews, Jim Gooch and Tom Platt (Charlotte) of Clemson, SC; his nieces Sara June Goldstein (Francis) of Columbia, SC and Meri Goswami of Clemson, as well as many relatives across SC and beyond. Dick graduated from DeSoto High School in Arcadia, FL and was a member of the inaugural graduating class of Florida Presbyterian College (now Eckerd College), St. Petersburg, FL, where he majored in English Literature and was a singer, writer, and performer. He studied summers at Presbyterian College, Clinton, SC. In 1964, Dick enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He spent four years as a Navy communications officer, working with the joint chiefs, and was assigned to a frigate in the Gulf of Tonkin, where he was part of the plane guard and search and rescue operations, which he described as a “life-defining experience.” Dick was a highly-decorated and proud veteran. After leaving the Navy, Dick eventually settled in Hollywood, CA, where he met and married Sally Martin. There he trained and performed as an opera singer, jazz singer and theater actor. He was Executive Producer of Cloud Dancer (1980) and the PBS series Jazz in America (1981), which featured jazz legends Dizzy Gillespie, Jerry Mulligan and Max Roach, culminating in a performance at Lincoln Center in NYC. In 1985, Dick and Sally moved their family to Charleston, SC, where he lived for 25 years. In Charleston, he served as creative director for Wermuth/Reed Assoc. and founded The Reed Agency, achieving industry acclaim and ADDIE awards for his agency’s work. Always the entertainer, Dick could light up a room with his boisterous tales, his euphemistic advice, and his thundering laughter. He was a lover of all thing’s art, and his creativity was limitless; he recorded an album The Sensuous Supper (1974), produced PBS series “Welcome Aboard” (1999), published the magazine Domain. (2006), and self-published a novel, The Darker Side of Paradise (2014). He performed in operas, including: Menotti's "Amahl & The Night Visitors" and Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess.” Dick was a man of faith, serving as a member of the choir, singing the oratorio, and leading adult Bible studies at Hollywood Presbyterian, First Scots Presbyterian, and Grace Episcopal Cathedral. His declining health led to his retirement and eventual move to the Asheville area. His courage, optimism, and compassion in the time of the pandemic are an inspiration to family, friends, and those who cared for him. Dick was a big, generous, loving, creative presence in the lives of his family and friends, who mourn his loss and cherish his memory. Morris Funeral Home, Asheville, NC is serving the family and memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.morrisfamilycare.com. . A celebration of life will be held at a later date. When this information is available it will be posted on our website so please check back.

Tributes

Dick Reed

September 22, 1942 - January 15, 2022