Reed V. Berube

Reed Victor Berube, 88, of East Hartford, CT, passed away peacefully on January 30, 2026. He was born May 2, 1937, in Hamlin, Maine, the son of the late Edmund Berube and Irene (Parent) Berube.

Reed is survived by his wife of 66 years, Verna (Madore) Berube, sons Michael and David Berube (daughter-in-law Michelle), grandchildren Shannon Powers (her husband Sean) and Jeffrey Berube (his wife Ashley), and great-grandchildren Kennedy Powers, Emorett and Jaxon Berube. He also leaves siblings Everett (Barbara), John, and Stephen (Margaret) Berube, Bernice Lessard, Mae Steg (Alan), Gloria Jean Bogue (Robert), Linda Feliciano, and Louella Spinelli; godchildren Gail McClain and Sondra Montessi-Yates; along with several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by siblings Edwin Berube, Edmerine Bocash, and Ruth Ayotte.

Reed lived in East Hartford for 59 years and was employed as a machinist and tool cutter/grinder at Chandler Evans, Mal Tool and Engineering, and Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, where he received several awards for his expertise and ingenuity. He was known for solving manufacturing challenges to get the job done.

A devout member of Saint Christopher's Church in East Hartford, Reed was well known in the community for his generosity. He enjoyed gardening and sharing his crops and the fiddleheads he picked annually along the Connecticut Riverbank. Reed had a sharp twinkle in his eye and a ready joke for any occasion; his humor lifted the spirits of family and friends. He was also known by many as the "Fire Ball" man, always having a pocket full of Fire Balls to share, including in an unsuspecting Fire Ball handshake.

The Berube family is grateful to the staff at Alto Evergreen Walk, ElderCrew, and Compassus for their relentless support, dedication, and compassion to Reed, his family, and friends. A special thank you to Janet Boateng for her exemplary care over the past year.

A calling hour will be held at John F. Tierney Funeral Home, 219 W. Center Street in Manchester, on Saturday, February 21, from 8:30–9:30 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Church of the Assumption, 27 Adams St. S., Manchester, at 10:00 a.m., followed by burial at Hillside Cemetery in East Hartford.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Reed's memory to the Cure Alzheimer's Fund at curealz.org.