John Ramon Reed was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on April 29, 1936, to Elizabeth Rice Reed and Julius Reed. He was the 11th of 14 children and grew up with his family in Pittsburgh’s Hill District. A bright and curious child, John attended an Episcopal elementary school before matriculating to Fifth Avenue High School, where he completed the 11th grade.

John met the love of his life, Sarah, when they were both employed at Federal Enamel in McKees Rocks. John and Sarah married on May 12, 1956, and remained married for the next 70 years. They settled in Beltzhoover, where they raised their three daughters. John was employed with Matthews International for more than 30 years before his retirement in 1998.

John, an avid follower of politics, held elected office as the 18th Ward’s committeeman for nearly a decade and served as a delegate for Jesse Jackson during Jackson’s 1984 campaign for president. He was also deeply committed to community empowerment, serving as national vice president for ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, where he traveled the country working for improvements in schooling and housing for low-income families. He was also an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan and a season ticket holder for many years.

John was an active member of St. Paul A.M.E. Church, where he served as a Trustee and a member of the Usher Board. Although busy with his civic and church activities, John was always an attentive husband and father, never missing an event or activity.

John R. Reed will be viewed at St. Paul AME, 400 Orchard Pl, Pittsburgh, PA 15210 on Saturday, July 18, 2026 from 8:00am to 11:00am; Funeral Service begins at 11:00am. Interment follows at Allegheny Cemetery, Pittsburgh, PA.