Clifford Reid "Cliff"
Passed away in Waterville, Maine, on November 6, 2021. Cliff grew up in Washington, DC, and graduated from Calvin Coolidge High School. He received a bachelor's degree in economics from George Washington University, and played for the George Washington football team. Cliff received a PhD in economics from Princeton University in 1973, where he developed a research interest in the role of discrimination in American life - in housing, employment, and wages - that he would continue to pursue throughout his academic career. Cliff was a professor of economics at Grinnell College, in Iowa, for 14 years, and it was there that he met his wife, Sheila McCarthy, and that their son Matthew was born. He was then a professor of economics at Colby College in Waterville, Maine, from 1987 until his retirement in 2009. Family, friends, and colleagues remember Cliff for his wry sense of humor and his incisive observations on topics ranging from politics to current events and sports. He was legendary for his rigorous standards in the classroom and was a caring mentor to generations of students at Grinnell and Colby. Cliff was a loving father and a devoted husband, especially as Sheila faced an illness during the past several years. During many memorable trips with his family, Cliff would always have a coffee, newspaper, and camera in hand. And in recent years he enjoyed sharing his love of books and math with his beloved grandchildren Beatrice and Abraham. Cliff was predeceased by his parents, Dorothy (Reeder) and Charles Reid, and his brother, Charles, of Washington, DC. He is survived by his wife, Sheila, of Waterville, Maine; his son Matthew Reid and wife Judith Griffin, and his grandchildren Beatrice and Abraham Reid of Ithaca, NY. Arrangements:A memorial service for Cliff will be held at Marshall-March Funeral Home, 4217 9th St. NW, Washington, DC, on Tuesday, November 23, 2021. There will be a viewing at 10 a.m. followed by a service at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Calvin Coolidge Alumni Association Dollars for Scholars Program.

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Published by The Washington Post on Nov. 20, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for CLIFFORD REID

3 Entries

Darren Hoover

August 11, 2022

I met Dr. Reid in August 1974 as a freshman at Grinnell College. He was my professor for the mandatory Freshman Tutorial and Intro to Economics courses during that academic year. He recognized that I came to GC poorly prepared, but I was smart and hard-working. With his help, I overcame my initial handicaps and finished my freshman year with 3.9 GPA. He was my adviser during my first 2 years. When I suggested that I pursue further studies in economics, he said "no, you should become a physician". I took his advice, and recently retired after a 40 year career in medicine. Thank you Dr. Reid for your encouragement, honesty, and caring attitude. You were a genuinely great teacher. I only wish that I could thank you in person. RIP.

Scott Ross

April 14, 2022

I took classes from Mr. Reid at Grinnell in the very late 1970s and early 80s. I remember him as perhaps the best professor I ever had, an academic terror in a wool sweater carrying a piece of chalk. His weapon of destruction? Silence. He asked you - yeah, you - a question. Then he shut up. He tossed the piece of chalk. He twirled a string attached to the blinds. Other students raised their hands. He ignored them. He waited until you answered. While most excruciating when he waited for you, everyone in class sat on pins and needles, hoping, hoping, hoping the person asked could answer. Mr. Reid wanted you to answer, too. Maybe he, more than anyone, wanted you to answer. After a couple of classes, Mr. Reid's roster shrank, often by a lot. Those of us who stayed, however, came prepared for the sweater, the chalk, the string and most importantly, for the silence only we could break.

I survived. That survival gave me optimism. If I could withstand the silence, if I could summon an oblique point from the reading, maybe I could do OK in other settings like grad school or work or someplace else where I had to think hard, think right now.

Rest in peace, Mr. Reid, and thanks.

Christie Browning Rana

January 9, 2022

I was so sad to just learn this news of Professor Reid´s passing. I was an Econ major at Colby and was fortunate enough to have had him as an Econ professor for several classes. Like the obituary said, he held high standards in high classroom, and made all of his students push themselves to their limit. It was challenging, but I still appreciate all this taught me. In addition to being an amazing professor with such a love of economics, he also had a way of letting his students know that he recognized their efforts. I also played lacrosse at Colby and he often came To the games and after one game gave me a bunch of pictures ("anonymously" - his writing was very distinct, so though he never admitted to it, I knew they were from him!), from the game that he had taken. At the time, I was really struggling in his class, and I always knew this was his way of showing me he knew I was working hard, and recognized that I also had other strengths. His impact on me was great, and I will never forget him. Living in Maine now, I would have gone to the service if I had known about it. The world has lost a brilliant and wonderful soul, but his footprint lies deep and won´t be forgotten. Rest In Peace, Professor Reid.

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