John L. Reed
John L. Reed, who served the College for 27 years as a professor of education, chair
of the Education Department, and director of the College’s Elementary Education Program,
died June 28, 2014, at his home in Saratoga Springs. The cause was pancreatic cancer.
He was 85.
John came to Skidmore as an assistant professor of education in 1964. He was named
director of the Elementary Education Program in 1968, associate professor in 1969,
and professor in 1972. He served as chair of the Education Department from 1970 to
1980.
“He loved teaching and shared his passion with us,” says Susan Lesser ’73, one of
many former students who stayed in close touch with him through the years. “He held
the bar high, and he didn’t give a lot of A’s. But we all loved him because he was
passionate about teaching and we knew that he really cared about us.”
Born in Canandaigua, N.Y., in 1928, John graduated from Canandaigua Academy in 1945,
then attended Norwich University, from which he graduated in 1949.
Serving in the Korean War as a first lieutenant and adjutant in the ORC Armor division,
he was awarded the Korean Service Medal and UN Service Ribbon.
Before coming to Skidmore, John taught in public schools in Connecticut, Massachusetts,
and the state of Washington. He earned an M.A. in Liberal Studies at Wesleyan University
in 1959 and an Ed.D. from Harvard University in 1965.
In retirement, John served as a docent at the New York State Military Museum and Veterans
Research Center in Saratoga Springs. He was an avid traveller, outdoorsman, gardener,
and cook.
John is survived by his wife, Doretta Miller, a professor of art at Skidmore, by his
daughters Robin L. Reed and Leslie Reed-Evans, his brother James G. Reed, his sister
Nancy R. Reed, and a number of nephews and nieces.
He was honored in a military funeral July 7 at Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National
Cemetery.