Dirk Reed

1943 - 2017

Dirk Reed
Oct. 16, 1943 - Sept. 16, 2017
Granite Bay, CA
Dirk Charles Reed, 73, died peacefully on Saturday, September 16, 2017, at his home with his family, at the end of a three-year battle with lung cancer.
He joins his parents Eula and Henderson Reed, and siblings Lynn, Nancy, and Michael. He is survived by his wife, Linda, her two children, Chris and Heidi and their six children, his two daughters, Nicole and Nancy and their five children, as well as nephews Kirby and Scott.
Born and raised in San Francisco, Dirk attended St. Ignatius High School and San Jose State. After serving in the National Guard, Dirk settled in San Jose. There he embarked on a career in commercial real estate that began with the same energy and ambition that would characterize the rest of his life. At the age of only 28 he was the manager of Grubb & Ellis in San Jose where he was two years younger than the average age of his office. A rising star in brokerage, he quickly segued into a career as real estate developer, enjoying much success and making many friends along the way, most notably with his long-time business partner, Archie Snider.
Dirk's passion for life extended to his hobbies. A 5th generation Californian, he took pride in California's gold-mining history, and even built a mine on his Nevada City property where he had an extensive collection of gold-mining equipment. An avid sportsman and lifelong lover of fishing and quail hunting, Dirk travelled the world in search of nature and adventure. He was equally in his element on his own land at home, where he cultivated grapes and a successful vineyard, as he was at sea in his boat, Prowler, both in domestic and foreign waters. Later in life he became an admirer and restorer of classic wooden boats, recently serving as President of the Riva Club.
Dirk loved politics, but most of all he loved people, and talking to them. He was a man's man--active, generous, ambitious, courageous. He truly loved life and lived it to the fullest, always connecting with fellow travelers along the way. He will be sorely missed.
Per Dirk's wishes, there will not be a formal memorial service. He chooses instead to have his ashes spread under his beloved Golden Gate Bridge in the San Francisco Bay.


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