Nathan Reade spent life committed to helping others

Danette Goulet

COSTA MESA -- He gave of his time, his energy, his knowledge, his

wallet and his love. And Nathan Reade, who at 78 died in his bed of

congestive heart failure Monday night, will be missed by most all who

knew him.

“I don’t know of anyone who didn’t like Nate Reade,” said Hank Panian,

a friend of 30 years who got to know Reade through the Costa Mesa

Historical Society and the Mesa Consolidated Water District. “They may

have disagreed with him, but I never heard of anyone who disliked him.

And it’s a very difficult thing to emerge from politics with everyone

liking you.”

That was an especially tall order for a man who knew as many people

and was as active in the community as Reade.

He was deeply involved in Costa Mesa since he helped to incorporate

the city in 1953 as part of the Home Rule Group.

Reade was the executive director of the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce

for 20 years, and before that, the assistant director for six or seven

years, said his daughter Susan Reade.

He served on the Costa Mesa Planning Commission, and sat on the board

of directors of the Mesa Consolidated Water District and the Costa Mesa

Sanitary District for eight years each. He was also active in numerous

nonprofit groups in the community.

He acted as director for the City of Hope, chairman of the United Way,

was the past president of the Youth Restitution, was on the board of

directors for the Salvation Army and also on the board of directors for

the Lions Club, where he was involved with the annual Fish Fry. He was

also active in the Orange County Child Guidance Center and the Boys Club.

Reade was named Man of the Year by both the Costa Mesa Chamber of

Commerce and the Soroptimist Club. He was named Orange Coast College’s

Citizen of the Year in 1983 and even Angel of the Year by the Child

Guidance Center.

Friends and colleagues said his brand of leadership had a calming

effect on those around him.

“Nate always brought a real gentle humor to sort of keep order in the

city,” said Art Kidman, who knew Reade since 1975, when he first served

on the Mesa Consolidated Water District. “He would say ‘dignity and

decorum gentlemen’ and people would always step back from what was

starting to get them excited.”

Despite all his various activities, Susan Reade said her father found

the time to devote himself to his family.

“He couldn’t have been a better father or more committed family man,”

she added.

Reade is survived by his widow, Thelma; children Mark Reade, Carol

Greeban, Irene Taylor and Susan Reade; and grandchildren Scott,

Elizabeth, Andrew and Melissa.

“He was just a real loving, generous man,” said Richard Taylor, his

son-in-law, who added that he was treated like family for the 20 years he

knew Reade. “He didn’t have much to give, but everything he had, he gave.

I can truly attest to that.”