Cover photo for David Reid's Obituary
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1941 David 2016

David Reid

September 8, 1941 — August 15, 2016

Dr. David Sinclair Reid passed away at home on Aug. 15, 2016, after complications from a stroke. He was a beloved husband of 51 years to Joyce, father to Andrew (Kathleen) Reid, Gavin (Julie) Reid, and grandfather to Ewan. David was 74 years old.

Born on Sept. 8, 1941, in Glasgow, Scotland, he studied at Allan Glen's Boys School before earning both bachelor of science with honors and a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the University of Glasgow. After marrying Joyce in 1965, they spent two years in Buffalo, N.Y., before returning to the United Kingdom for 13 years and having two sons, Andrew (1968) and Gavin (1973), while David built a career as a research manager at Unilever.

In 1981, David joined the faculty of the department of food science and technology at UC Davis as a leading researcher on how temperature changes affect food, particularly freezing. A global expert in food freezing, David was very proud of his many international graduate students and the impact that they have had in improving food safety and quality worldwide.

He retired as an emeritus professor in 2008, but remained active as the editor-in-chief of the International Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture (JSFA) and as associate director of the California Institute of Food and Agriculture Research (CIFAR). In addition, he very much enjoyed traveling with his family to destinations around the world including the Galapagos Islands, Iguazu Falls and the Baltic.

David is survived by his wife of 51 years, Joyce; sons Andrew (Kathleen) of Malvern, Pa., Gavin (Julie) and grandson Ewan of Campbell, Calif.; brother James (Sheema) of Bishopbriggs, Scotland; sister Carolyn McLarnan (Keith) of Hattiesburg, Miss.; sister-in-law Margaret Watson of Lochmaben, Scotland; and nieces and nephews.

David will be greatly missed by the many people his life has touched. A private family service was held on Aug. 19, and a public memorial will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, David's favorite charities were the Mercer Veterinary Clinic (P.O. Box 297, Davis, CA 95617), and Medicins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders.


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