Stellar athlete & automobile executive
(January 7, 1955 - May 29, 2021)
James (Jim) Crawford Reid, Jr. died in his Belle Mead home on May 29 after a six-year battle with Lewy body dementia and Parkinson’s disease. He was 66.
Jim was born on January 7, 1955 and raised in Kearny, where his parents of Scottish and Irish heritage, James Reid, Sr. and Dorothy Reid got married and raised a family. Jim was the oldest of five children.
Jim was a stellar athlete with a lifelong passion for basketball. Starting in high school, Jim played at St. Benedict’s in Newark. Upon St. Benedict’s closing for the 1972-1973 school year, Jim transferred to St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City, where he was named All-Hudson County and All-State, Parochial A. Jim was honored to be inducted into St. Peter’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
Jim continued on to Montclair State University, where he played basketball for four years, graduating in 1977. During the summer, he competed against top local players in the Belmar summer league. He was also a softball player in the Kearny Fast; played for R-Gang and Terrace Tavern; and participated in the annual Kearny softball tournament, just like his beloved uncle Vinny Shurr.
Following in his father’s footsteps, his career in the automobile industry spanned 35 years to include General Motors/Oldsmobile division as a zone manager, ending his years in the automobile business with Mitsubishi as a district manager.
Jim loved the NY Giants, Yankees, and Knicks, and listening to his favorite musician, Bruce Springsteen.
He is survived by his wife, Hannah; his children: Kristen and husband Keir; Ryan and fiancée Paige; Jon and girlfriend Michelle; and Chris and wife Elisabeth. He is also survived by his siblings: Jane and husband Bob, Diane and husband Jimmy, Billy and wife Anne Marie, and Chris and wife Lauren. Jim was predeceased by his parents.
Donations in his memory may be made to The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. ■
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