Harry G. Reid

Harry G. Reid, 85, of Charlton, passed away on Monday, October 13, 2008. He was born in Providence, R.I. on February 24, 1923 son of D. Albert and Marguerite (Page) Reid and grew up in Cranston, R.I.

Harry was a proud 60 year member of the Masons, including the Harmony Lodge in Cranston, the Nantucket Union Lodge and the Isle of the Sea Royal Arch Chapter where he served as secretary of the Chapter for 10 years, and a 25 year member of the Valley of Boston Shriners.

Harry and his life partner of 52 years, Howard L. Lewis, owned businesses, renovated homes, and actively worked to advance the historic preservation movement in Brooklyn. Harry and Howard owned Botanic Planning Ltd. on Atlantic Avenue, a renowned purveyor of silk flowers with boutiques in major department stores including Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany's, Bloomingdales, and the White House.

Harry was fortunate to retire on Nantucket Island where his illustrious Congdon and Folger ancestors lived. This includes Joseph Congdon, who captained the whaling ship Alpha in the 1840's and Congdon's son, also named Joseph, captained the sailing portion of the famous Housatonic, the Union's first all-steel sailing ship which was sunk in 1864 by the Hunley (the first Confederate submersible). This Joseph Congdon, later became captain of the Port of New York and served as the first commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. The full history of the Congdon family resides at Nantucket's Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum.

Harry was very active at the First Congregational Church of Nantucket as the past chair of the trustees under senior minister Dr.Everett Bodge. In addition, Harry was chairman of Rose Sunday and was responsible for transforming the old iron forms that had held the church's heating pipes into the golden decorative basket holders that are still in use today.

In addition to Howard Lewis, he is survived by his sister, Virginia Bentsen Arnold and her husband Charles; nieces, Betsy and Kristine; nephews, Brent and Paul; great-nephews, Reid and Jon, and a great-niece, Heidi.

A Celebration of Harry's Life will be on Friday, October 24, 2008 at 11:00 A.M. at the Overlook Masonic Chapel, 88 Masonic Home Rd. in Charlton, MA. Memorial gifts should be sent to: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, P.O. Box 27106, New York, N.Y. 10087 or Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, Attn: Developement, P.O. Box 110, Mount Vernon, VA. 22121. The Robert J.Miller-Charlton Funeral Home, 175 Old Worcester Rd., is assisting Harry's family with funeral arrangements.