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REED -- Jack W. Reed, 84, a resident of Albuquerque, passed away on Friday, November 30, 2007, after a brief but feisty bout with lung cancer. He spent his last days at the Care Center of Manzano del Sol Good Samaritan Village, which he helped to found. Jack was a brilliant mathematician and meteorologist, who went on from an early love of flight to become an invaluable part of the team that conducted the U.S.'s historic nuclear tests in the 1950s and early '60s. He enjoyed a long, productive scientific career at Sandia National Labs and at Kirtland Air Force Base, where he served as a Reserve Officer in the New Mexico Air National Guard. In his later years, Jack was one of the much-loved "Weather Wizards," for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, while he maintained an active research life until his death. Jack was born in Corning, IA on September 24, 1923. At the age of nine, he moved with his mother, Vera Gibson and his step-father, Charles Reed to Santa Fe, where his step-father was the State Highway Engineer. He graduated from Santa Fe High School in 1940. Jack was drafted into the US Army at the onset of World War II. He was an early weather specialist in the Air Corps, serving in the Philippines. In September 1944, Jack married Lois Linville of Chicago, IL. When he was discharged from the Army in 1947, they settled in Albuquerque, where he finished his schooling at the University of New Mexico, receiving a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics. They had two children, Roger and Margaret. Jack became a meteorologist at Sandia National Labs, with the important task of predicting the fallout and shock patterns of numerous atmospheric nuclear tests, both in Nevada and in the South Pacific. Jack worked in various capacities at Sandia National Labs for 46 years. After his retirement from Sandia, he founded a consulting firm, JWR, Inc., where he continued to offer his expertise to clients worldwide. Jack published countless papers on atmospheric studies, wind energy, and nuclear matters and tests. He was active for years in the Democratic Party, the Boy Scouts, the New Mexico NAACP, and fought tirelessly for civil rights in New Mexico. Jack was a longtime member of First Congregational Church. Jack loved to travel around the globe and across the nation. He was a wine connoisseur and made numerous trips to California wine country and the various wine regions of France. Proceeded in death by his mother, step-father, and son, Roger. He is survived by his wife, Lois Reed; daughter, Margaret "Marti" Reed, both residents of Albuquerque; and granddaughter, Terra Lillie Reed, a student at the University of Oregon currently attending the University of Lyon in France. "And reed that boweth to every blast." - Chaucer, 1385. Memorial Services will be announced at a later date. French Mortuary 1111 University Blvd. NE (505) 843-6333 www.frenchmortuary.com
        Published on: Sun December 02, 2007