Gil Emerson Reid

If you passed him in a parking lot or outside a storefront, Gil would likely shift his cigar to the other hand, offer a salute and a grin, and toss out a quick word that brightened your day. If you knew him longer, you had a faithful friend, a passionate philosopher, nature lover, and mentor whose spark of hope and joy left a mark that never fades. Gil, 83, passed peacefully at home in West Suffield, Connecticut, on 13 August 2025, surrounded by his beloved wife, close friends, and much-loved dogs. His life was an adventure: football player for Michigan State University; member of an elite reconnaissance team among the first Marines in Vietnam; sports car racer at Lime Rock Speedway; advocate for Indigenous rights; and tireless supporter of his family through years of hockey, lacrosse, the Marine Corps, business, and farming. After retiring from Sun Life of Canada in 2006, Gil split his time between Connecticut and Rhode Island, cherishing breakfasts with his "McDonald's Crew" in Southwick, feeding the birds from his Prudence Island porch, spoiling the horses at his son's Virginia farm, and sharing meals with family and friends. A proud U.S. Marine, he served with Bravo Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion in Vietnam (1965–66) and continued a life of service as a first responder and dedicated member of the Prudence Island Volunteer Fire Department. Survivors include his wife, Susan; sons Mark and Brian-Logan; daughters-in-law Kimberly and Emilie; granddaughters Emerson and Kelsey; sisters Brigetta, Dawn, Lori, Paulla; and goddaughter Eleanor and family. Calling hours will be 6 September from 2-5 p.m. at Nicholson & Carmon Funeral Home, 443 East Street N. (Rt. 159), Suffield, CT with a celebration of life in Rhode Island in the fall. Memorial donations appreciated to the Tomaquag Museum (www.tomaquagmuseum.org) or the Prudence Island Volunteer Fire Department (www.pivfd.org). Gil often urged us to tell people how much they mean now, rather than "over their grave." It's a lesson he lived by, and a legacy we carry forward.