Irene Mary Reed

December 22, 1922-February 28, 2017

Irene Reed, a beloved mother, grandmother and the last surviving sibling of the Markiewicz clan, passed away quickly, peacefully, and on her own terms. She was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio and moved to the San Francisco area back in the 1950’s where she remained. She was the first in her family to earn a graduate degree in Public Health from UC Berkeley, and she started her career working for the university, then the State of California and worked the last thirty plus years for the federal government in the various incarnations of Health and Human Services. She was a pioneer is helping to develop HMO’s, serving on Senator Kennedy’s task force and commuting back to Washington DC. She believed in health care for everyone and worked hard to assist with funding to community health organizations and helping doctors who received federal assistance to give back to the underserved. She finally retired from full time employment at the young age of 80 years.

She is survived by her son, Kevin Reed, and daughter, Nanette Reed, and six grandchildren, David, Dylan, Austin, Spencer, Angel and Destiny. She remained in her Eichler home in Walnut Creek, living independently, until the end. She was a role model for many women before women’s liberation took hold. Her spirit and tenacity to accomplish difficult things will be remembered by all the persons she touched in her life. She will never be forgotten!

A service will be held at St. John Vianney Church, 1650 Ygnacio Valley Rd., Walnut Creek, Ca 94598 on March 27th at 10:30am with a reception to follow at a local restaurant.