James Dolan Reid, 83, of Killingworth, died quietly Oct. 27 at home surrounded by the love of his family. He was born June 24, 1930 in Augusta, Georgia to Richard and Katherine (O’Leary) Reid. Jim moved with his family to New Rochelle, New York, in 1940 and graduated from Iona Preparatory High School, where he and his twin brother excelled academically and ran cross country. The twin redheads were known as “The Gold Dust Twins.” Their yearbooks record good-natured jokes about who was the smart twin, or who was the fast twin. Both brilliant and quick, the two took different paths after high school.

Jim received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics in 1952 and a master’s in mathematics in 1954, both from Fordham University. He spent two years in the United States Navy as an electrician aboard the U.S.S. Smalley before pursuing his doctorate at the University of Washington. He earned his Ph.D. in 1960.

On Jan. 3, 1959, a beautiful and unseasonably warm day, he married his sweetheart Anne “Nancy” Donohue at St. Catharine’s Church in Pelham, New York. That was the beginning of a beautiful journey of more than 54 years. 

From Seattle, Washington, Jim and Nancy moved to Syracuse, where he taught at Syracuse University; New Haven, where he held a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Yale University; Amherst, Massachusetts, where he taught at Amherst College, and back to Syracuse, where he continued teaching until 1969. In the summer of 1969, Jim, Nancy, and their three children moved to Killingworth, and he began his career at Wesleyan University. He was extraordinarily dedicated to his students, to his department and to his field of study. In addition to his teaching, Jim’s research in mathematics, Abelian Groups, was internationally admired. He directed 14 doctoral dissertations and delivered papers, talks, and classes throughout the world over the course of his career, including an appointment as Visiting Professor at University of Wϋrzburg. Jim retired from Wesleyan in 2001, after more than 30 years, but continued to teach in the spring semester every year.

While pursuing his career at Wesleyan, Jim was also, in his own words, “a devoted husband, a loving father, and an all-around good guy.” He served his community on the Board of Education and was an active member of St. Lawrence Church. In 1991, Jim and Nancy realized their dream of having a place in Maine to spend some months of the year. Grandchildren followed, and many wonderful memories were made. Jim’s grandchildren loved greeting him in the morning, and he shared with them his love of nature and his good humor. The family dogs all found in Jim a most excellent and generous friend, who always saved them something from his meal. In Maine, Jim and Nancy shared a love of the fields around their old farm house, the sunsets over those fields, the goldfinches and hummingbirds that visited their fruit trees and flowers, and the dramatic seascapes nearby. 

A gentleman and a scholar, a quiet and humble man of infinite kindness, sensitivity, and patience, and a man of quick and ready wit, James Dolan Reid was unfailingly courteous and generous in all of his dealings with others. He believed in fairness and tolerance; he practiced loyalty and respect. Jim is deeply and profoundly missed by all of those lucky enough to have known and loved him.

 He is survived by his beloved wife Nancy; three devoted children, James, Jr., and his wife Susannah of Spencer, West Virginia, Margaret of Barrington, Rhode Island, and Gerald and his wife Colleen of Harpswell, Maine; five adoring grandchildren, James Elijah Reid; Claire, Catherine, and Erin Reid; and Daniel Reid; a brother, Thomas Reid of Cleveland, Ohio; and 19 nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two sisters, Margaret Dee Reid (Sister Mary Richard) in 2003 and Kathleen Reid in 1930; Jim’s identical twin brother, Richard Reid, Jr., of Pawling, New York, died nine days before Jim.

Calling hours will be Wednesday, Oct. 30 from 4-6 p.m. at Swan Funeral Home, 825 Boston Post Rd., Madison. A Mass of Christian burial will be held Thursday, Oct. 31 at 10 a.m. at St. Lawrence Church, 7 Hemlock Dr., Killingworth, followed by burial in Evergreen Cemetery, Killingworth. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Jim’s name to either of the following causes, which were very important to Jim, and remain so to his family:  The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation or Autism Speaks. The Swan Funeral Home, Madison, is in charge of arrangements.