Philip Reed

Philip Lee Reed, age 78, of Grand Rapids, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at home, surrounded by his family and his beloved dog, Sammy.

Phil was born in Grand Rapids on November 30, 1947, the son of Wallace and Marjorie Reed. He graduated from East Grand Rapids High School, class of 1965. He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from Grand Valley State College, a master’s degree from Simon Fraser University, and a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Western Ontario.

Phil had a remarkably diverse and accomplished career. After completing his doctorate, he lived in Alberta, Canada, where he worked as a psychological consultant for oil companies. He later returned to Grand Rapids to serve as CEO of his family’s business, Spectra Products, and subsequently owned and operated Megawall, a subsidiary of the company. A lifelong learner, Phil returned to school at age 55 to pursue a master’s degree in Epidemiology at Michigan State University, graduating in 2004. He then spent the next 15 years at MSU, serving as Director of the Biomedical Research Informatics Core (BRIC) and Associate Director of the Clinical & Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI), before retiring in 2020.

The center of Phil’s life was his family. He was a devoted husband to Marybeth and a loving father and stepfather to Nick and Kevin. He approached parenting with wisdom, generosity, and kindness, and took great pride in his sons. He was an enthusiastic supporter of their many pursuits and never hesitated to offer thoughtful advice.

Phil is survived by his wife of 26 years, Marybeth Atwell; his son, Nicholas Seccombe of Memphis; his stepson, Kevin Rowe (Jeanne); his two granddaughters, Eleanor and Lucy, of San Francisco; and his brother and best friend, James Reed (Peni). He was preceded in death by his parents Wallace and Marjorie Reed, and sister Wendy Reed.

A memorial service will be held at Fountain Street Church on May 16 at 11:00. Visitation will occur one hour prior to the service in the Keeler Lounge at the church. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Fountain Street Church or Hospice of Michigan.

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