Reid Allen Hoover, Sr.

On Sunday, January 24, 2021, Reid Allen Hoover, Sr. brother, father, husband, and master mariner, passed away in Boston, MA at the age of 65 with Irene, his former spouse, and Reid, Jr., his son, present during his final days.

He was born June 14, 1955 in Madison, Wisconsin to Charles Jackson and Joan Katherine Hoover Sr.  He graduated from Tabor Academy, Marion, MA in 1974 and from Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Buzzards Bay, MA in 1981 with a BS degree in Marine Transportation.

Having grown up in a military family and always near the water, Reid had a passion for traveling and boating which he turned into a life-long career.  Over a 40-year period, he rose through the ranks from Deck Cadet to Chief Mate and ultimately earned his Captain’s license.  He also served in the Naval Reserves for 28 years earning veteran status and was honorably discharged August 2009 with a rank of Commander.  He served on a variety of vessels ranging from tugboats to offshore drilling rigs, from oil tankers to fast sealift ships, from cable layers to oceanographic research ships, and from roll-on/roll-off cargo ships to Navy destroyers.  His activities were equally varied including performing short notice hurricane sorties for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, laying communications cables across the Atlantic Ocean, and supporting and supplying Navy ships in the Persian Gulf.  Reid could easily keep a dinner conversation full of stories of the places he’s been, the places he’s seen, and things he’s done.

Reid was very close to Mom and Dad and loved sailing with them on Cape Cod, in and around Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, and the Elizabeth Islands.  Some of his fondest memories included racing Scot Lass in the Marion to Bermuda regatta; and he never forgot sailing her for the first time in March from Mamaroneck, NY to Duxbury, MA exclaiming never having been so cold, for so long.  Later in his career, that turned out to be so not true after a last-minute change in plans placed him on a ship off the coast of Norway without having packed the proper gear.   

A lover of animals, if Reid had been more of a landlubber, he would have had a German Shepherd at his side; he grew up with and loved the breed.  Sadly, that wasn’t the case so instead he frequently greeted every dog on the floor on all fours, all 6 foot 3 inches and 225 pounds, cooing puppy sounds which was often reciprocated with front paws down, tail up wagging furiously, and a face full of licks.  The sloppier the better, that was joy for Reid.  Not surprisingly, he was a monthly donor to the ASPCA.

Reid was often torn by having to spend up to 6 – 8 months at a time at sea with only a few months between deployments.  Always anxious to get stateside, he looked forward to being with family and friends and making the most of his time off.  In recent years, he got the utmost joy living in and taking care of his Florida home.  He enjoyed the warm climate and outdoor activities, including a Cuba Libre poolside.  Reid cared deeply for his family, and if he had his way, he would have beamed them down from Boston to be with him on a more permanent basis.  Irene and Reid, Jr. cared just as deeply for him and spent the last 13 months assisting him daily as he struggled with a very progressive and aggressive form of Parkinson’s and finally Covid-19.

Reid is survived by his son, Reid Allen Hoover, Jr.; his former spouse and the mother of Reid, Jr., Irene Hoover; his brother, Charles Jackson Hoover, Jr; his sister-in-law, Kelli Hoover; his second former spouse, Karen Mason; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.  He is preceded in death by his father, Charles Jackson Hoover, Sr. and his mother, Joan Katherine Hoover.

Reid will be interred next to his parents in the Mayflower Cemetery, Duxbury, MA this Spring. A memorial service celebrating his life will be scheduled at a later date. The Twomey, LeBlanc, & Conte Funeral Home 193 High St. Newburyport, MA 01950 is assisting Mr. Hoover’s family with his arrangements.

We would be honored if memorial donations in memory of Reid were made to the ASPCA or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

To offer online condolences and updated service information please visit www.tlcfuneralhome.com.

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