Reynolds Springborn

1929 - 2023

Reynolds Springborn
March 12, 1929 - May 28, 2023
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina - Reynolds Springborn died peacefully on May 28, 2023, at Broad Creek Care Center. Rennie was born on March 12, 1929, in Brooklyn, NY to Helen Reynolds and Harold William Springborn. The family moved to Mt Vernon, NY shortly thereafter, where Rennie was educated in the public school system, graduating with honors in 1946. He went on to Yale University and received a Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree in 1950, with election to Tau Beta Pi, the National Engineering Honors Society. At Yale, he was a member of the swimming team, business manager at Yale Scientific Magazine and served as Chief Aide to the Master of Timothy Dwight College.
He was employed by Foster Wheeler Corporation as a project engineer for the design and construction of oil refineries, chemical process plants and US nuclear facilities. He was drafted into the US Army in 1955, serving a year with the Corp of Engineers on Okinawa, where he worked on the design of numerous US Far East military facilities. Upon his discharge he joined the New York Stock Exchange firm Bear, Stearns & Co., working as a securities analyst, member of the New York Society of Security Analysts and as an institutional stockbroker, serving major financial institutions and investment managers. While at Bear, Stearns he served on the board of directors of Caribbean Material Supply Company and Saxon Industries. He retired from Bear, Stearns as an Associate Director in 1994.
His first marriage ended in divorce. In 1973 he married Nancy Devaney Shanahan of Paoli, Pennsylvania. They resided in Manhattan for twenty-two years, supplementing their city life with time spent at their country home in Kent, Connecticut, where Rennie was able to indulge his love of fly fishing on the Housatonic River and other nearby rivers and lakes. He also loved his annual trips to Montana to fly fish with his fishing buddies.
He and Nancy moved to Hilton Head in 1994 and they immediately became active in community life. They are members of St Luke's Church where Rennie served as Rector's Warden of the Vestry. He was a member of the Finance Committee, Stewardship Chairman, and was an active lay reader, chalice bearer and usher. He was passionate about his volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity and spent many days a week at the job site. He served as Chairman of Construction and was also Chairman of the Board. During his tenure, the affiliate completed over 75 homes in the Hilton Head/ Bluffton area. The new community center at Brendan Woods was named in honor of Rennie. He and Nancy helped found Lean Ensemble Theater in 2014. Rennie was a member of the Board of Governors of the South Carolina yacht Club for many years and while a member, was awarded the Galbraith Humanitarian Award for his tireless work for Habitat for Humanity. He was also a volunteer at Memory Matters.
Rennie is survived by his devoted wife Nancy, her daughter Kimberly Callet (Anthony Dub) of New York City, son Chace of Ft. Collins CO, daughters Robin Ahern (Greg) of Westerly, RI and Amy Pagnani (Frederic) of Stamford, CT, Brother Neil (Melvina) of Lawton, OK, nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
A service is scheduled for Saturday, July 1, 11:00 AM at St. Lukes Anglican Church, Hilton Head Island.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Luke's Anglican Church and Hilton Head Regional Habitat for Humanity. www.keithfuneral.com