new church life: march/april 2016
For all that he
accomplished, for all
he was interested in
and for all the skills
and talents he had, it
seems it was clear to
anyone who knew him
that it was the people
in his life that mattered
the most to Reade.
reminiscences he might have about
what it was about flying that Reade
loved so much. He mentioned the
liberating and in-the-moment feeling
of the wheels leaving the ground and
of lifting into the air. But what he really
wanted to talk about was the respect he
had for Reade as a “loving family man,”
a “proud and doting grandfather” and
for his “integrity and true honesty.”
He doesn’t consider himself an
aviation friend of Reade’s; he considers
himself a family friend first. He even
said that what the two of them most
appreciated together about airplanes is
that they’re “time machines,” allowing
one to get quickly from one place to
another, to show up for the people in
one’s life, which is what really matters.
The attorney quoted earlier, who wrote in an email about Reade’s sound
judgment and thoughtful decision-making, followed that up with this:
More than anything, Reade was a family man. It is hard to imagine anyone more
devoted to family than Reade. Reade and Lynn were obviously fashioned by the
hand of God for one another, and theirs was a union that was blessed with love and
understanding and mutual caring. Reade and Lynn doted on their beautiful and
accomplished children and children-in-law, and were simply entranced by their
grandchildren. Reade’s life was enhanced by the love of a wonderful family that, in
so many ways, will carry on his memory and his abiding values.
For all that he accomplished, for all he was interested in and for all the
skills and talents he had, it seems it was clear to anyone who knew him that
it was the people in his life that mattered the most to Reade. And with his
calm, easy-going way, the way he’d watch and listen, paying attention to the
details, it’s no surprise that some of the most consistent and meaningful ways
that Reade showed his love and care for people was in often small, behindthe-scenes and we might even say unspectacular ways. But it always made a
difference because it was Reade who was doing it.
If Reade picked your name in a Christmas Pollyanna, you would end up
with a thoughtful, carefully chosen gift. And receiving that nice gift might
bring you a lot of joy, but not as much joy as he would get having given it to
you. At gatherings of friends or family, Reade loved to be busy in the kitchen,
cooking food, and he would be so excited if you liked it and would want to share
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