Clifford R. REID

December 30, 1952 - July 12, 2024

With heavy hearts we share the passing of Cliff Reid on July 12, 2024 at the Royal Jubilee Hospital (Victoria, BC) after a lengthy struggle with cancer and chronic health complications.
Cliff was predeceased by his loving parents, Reg (2017) and Iris (2020) Reid, and his sister Janet Reid (2023). He is survived by his siblings David Reid (Bryony) and Linda Reid (Steve Roome); nieces and nephews Colin Reid (Crista), Allison Reid Mollerberg (Gabriel), Miles Reid (Angie), Naomi Brennan (Kevin), Fiona Roome (David Pham), and Simon Roome; great-nephews Raphael Mollerberg (Allison/Gabriel) and Gavin Reid (Colin/Crista); and friends near and far with whom he shared longstanding and loyal friendships.
Born and raised in Victoria, Cliff attended Marigold and Uplands Elementary, Lansdowne Jr. and Oak Bay High, graduating in 1970.
As a child, Cliff loved camping and fly fishing and had a voracious appetite for learning.
He was an accomplished and versatile musician, playing classical and jazz trumpet well into his adult life. Cliff also played road hockey, ice hockey, and rugby and was a natural at long distance running. He also was an avid boater in his youth, spending endless hours kayaking at Gonzales Bay and "skippering" an El Toro sailboat named Rascal, both boats built by Cliff's Dad, Reg.
Cliff had a brilliant mind and was passionate about literature and writing, working at "The Haunted Bookshop" and U-Vic Library prior to experiencing vision loss in his early 40s. He was very proud of having written and published "How the Irish Got Stout". It wasn't a bestseller, but Cliff never was someone who cared about popular opinion, especially when humour was involved.
Cliff loved dogs and the NHL, combining both while a university student in befriending a stray Brittany Spaniel that he named Guy Lafleur. Guy later spawned puppies, one of which also became a family pet by the name of Rejean Houle. A fan of the Leafs and Canucks, Cliff loved paradoxes and could spot talent and a great dog-pick from afar.
He was never at a loss for words and could use them in a myriad of ways, conversing articulately on any topic, switching to debate at the turn of a dime. Seldom shy at sharing a perspective, Cliff was at times outspoken, always original, frequently obstinate and most definitely one-of-a-kind.
No tribute could ever fully capture Cliff and his life. We love you dearly and deeply miss you, Cliff.
The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks for the patience, dedication and kindness of RJH's hospitalists and staff, palliative physician Dr. Jody Anderson, and social worker Michelle Dale.
Donations in Cliff's memory gratefully accepted to the Nature Conservancy of Canada, the BCSPCA, or the Victoria Hospitals Foundation.