Stephen A Reid

With deep love and gratitude for a life well lived, we celebrate the life of Stephen A. Reid, who passed away from liver cancer on May 24th, 2026 at the age of 76 in Bethel, Connecticut.

 

Born February 9, 1950, in Waterville, Maine, Stephen was the first of two children born to Dean A. and Madeline B. Reid (Chase). From an early age, he had a gift for positive people interactions - offering warmth and self-confidence that stayed with him throughout his life.

 

Growing up in Fairfield, Maine, Stephen enjoyed many early adventures with his cousins and school friends — several of whom became lifelong companions. As a teenager, he developed what would become a lifelong passion: cars. He proudly obtained his driver’s license at age 15 and bought his first car at 16, working after school and weekends to fund his budding obsession. That love of automobiles was never just about machines, it was about independence, craftsmanship, and the freedom of the open road.

 

Stephen graduated from Lawrence High School in 1968. He went on to graduate cum laude in 1972 from Thomas College, earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in accounting. He began his professional career at Portland, Maine’s Union Mutual Life Insurance Company (now UNUM), where he quickly distinguished himself through diligence and integrity. In 1977, he earned his MBA (magna cum laude) from the University of Maine and licensed by the Maine Board of Accountancy as a Certified Public Accountant, milestones that reflected both his ambition and discipline.

 

Over the next 45 years, Stephen built an accomplished and varied career in public accounting and the computer industry, serving as a partner, marketing executive, consultant, and entrepreneur. He was respected not only for his financial expertise but also for his leadership, creativity, project management skills, and ability to see possibilities others might miss. One of his proudest professional chapters was his two-decade career at IBM. During this time, he traveled extensively across the United States, Europe, and Asia, forging relationships and contributing to the growth of a rapidly evolving global industry. He retired from IBM in 2008, closing a remarkable chapter defined by innovation and impact.

 

For the next decade, Stephen worked in entrepreneurial roles within the technology sector, assisting companies in developing their partner sales channels. He continued expanding his expertise and was recognized by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants as a Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP). In 2019, he fully retired after AICPA LTD benefits were awarded as result of his advanced multiple sclerosis condition.

 

For all his professional success, Stephen’s life was richer than titles and achievements. He deeply valued his relationships, with his family, lifelong friends, and new acquaintances alike. His charming, positive spirit, quick smile, and natural curiosity drew people to him. He believed in showing up, doing things well, and treating others with respect.

 

On August 17, 1989, Stephen married Beverly Bodwell Reid in Hampden, Maine. Shortly thereafter, he joined IBM in the New York City area as a CPA Industry Sales Consultant, and they moved their lively family, two young boys, four dogs, and a cat, to a new home in the Hamlet of South Salem located in Westchester County, New York. This began a four-decade partnership filled with love, adventure, laughter, and resilience.

 

Over the years, Stephen and Beverly traveled extensively, visiting many countries together. Among their most memorable experiences were more than six months at sea aboard 25 cruise ships exploring countries in the Caribbean, South America, Europe, Africa, and the Mediterranean. Stephen was especially proud of Beverly’s personal accomplishments in regional and national Amateur ADA Dressage competitions and AKC/UKC dog shows, always supporting her pursuits with enthusiasm and admiration.

 

In addition to his love of travel and cars, Stephen became an avid golfer at the turn of the century. He played the game with friends and family, not very well, but always with enthusiasm, humility, and plenty of laughter. Whenever his 18-hole score dipped below 100, it was cause for celebration. Over the next 20 years, he played hundreds of courses across Connecticut, New York, Florida, Nevada, South Carolina, Hawaii, Maine, Bermuda, Spain, Scotland, Mexico, and many Caribbean islands. Ever inventive, Stephen and his best friend and most frequent golf partner, Alex Rushewich, installed a chrome tubing luggage rack atop the trunk of his 1972 British Triumph TR6 Roadster to store their clubs on their frequent “Golfmobile” outings, a perfect blending of two of his great passions.

 

Stephen is lovingly survived by his wife, Beverly; his daughter, Starr Reid McDaniel of Oakland, Maine; his stepsons, Peter (Dani) Kennedy of Bloomfield, New Jersey, and Andy (Tirsa) Kennedy of Troy, New York; and eight grandchildren: Kayla McDaniel Butler, Garytt McDaniel, Leighara McDaniel, Aislinn Aveau, Madison Kennedy, Shelby Kennedy, Avery Kennedy, and Emersen Kennedy. He is also survived by his great-granddaughter, Maevia, beloved child of Toa and Aislinn Aveau.

 

His younger sister, Edith Suzzane (Edy Sue) Reid Tibbets predeceased him in 2014.

 

Stephen shared a particularly special bond with his grandson Garytt, who traveled from Maine to spend all his 2001-2013 summer vacations with Stephen and Beverly. Together they enjoyed local outings like NY Yankee games and resort and cruise vacations. Their close relationship has continued into Garytt’s adulthood. Over the last decade it has included periodic boys’ vacations in both Maine and Connecticut.

 

Two other profoundly important figures in Stephen’s life were his lifelong friends Dana Blair of Newport, Maine, and Stephen Siket of South Portland, Maine. Growing up together, attending the same schools and college, they remained close for seven decades. For the most recent decade, these “Three Amigos” faithfully held weekly video calls to stay connected, a testament to Stephen’s belief in sustaining meaningful friendships.

Stephen often emphasized to his family the importance of choosing high-quality friends. He was fond of saying,

“If you fly with the eagles you’ll soar, but if you fly with crows, you may get shot.” 

It was just one of his many memorable sayings shared at family gatherings.

 

Stephen’s story is one of drive, intellect, adventure, humor, perseverance, and genuine human warmth. While we mourn his loss, we celebrate a life marked by accomplishment, deep friendships, enduring love, resilience in the face of illness, and an unquenchable enthusiasm for life’s journey.

 

Stephen was not a perfect man but will be remembered for the many roads he traveled, the various relationships he nurtured, and the joy he often brought to those who knew him.

 

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the resolute team at Yale New Haven Hospital Smilow Cancer Hospital for their compassionate expert care and support of Stephen.

 

A Virtual Celebration of Life Event - https://www.mykeeper.com/StephenReid1/ to share a memory.

 

Interment will be in the Reid Family Plot in Fairfield, Maine’s Maplewood Cemetery. The details of this will be later communicated to Stephen’s local family and friends.