When Dr. T. Eugene Reed began talking about civil rights in the early 1960s, it was not a popular subject, particularly on Long Island where he lived in Amityville and maintained a dental practice. But, as many people recall, he took the high road, despite the risks, and became one of the strongest, most notable civil rights leaders not only on Long Island but across the state.

"Dr. Eugene Reed was one of the most important civil rights leaders in the State of New York at a time of the great struggle of the 1960s," said former Suffolk County Executive Patrick Halpin who appointed Dr. Reed as his Deputy County Executive.

"He was a warm, nice person," said Babylon Town Supervisor Steve Bellone who first met Dr. Reed when he (Bellone) was an aide to former Town Supervisor Richard Schaffer.

Bellone said that over the years he got to know Dr. Reed better and gained a tremendous respect for him. "He spoke about civil rights long before people wanted to hear about it," said Bellone who added that Dr. Reed was selected among the Town of Babylon’s 100 Most Influential People of the 20th Century.

Born in Brooklyn to the late Dr. Albert Edward and Dorothy Tyree Reed, Dr. Reed graduated from St. Dominic’s High School in Oyster Bay in 1940. He got his dental degree from Howard University in Washington D.C., in 1945 and served in the U.S. Army from 1948 to 51. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Captain and opened his practice in 1952. He retired in 1991.

Dr. Reed served as president of the New York Conference of the NAACP for eight years and under his leadership the state reached its highest numbers in terms of membership.

As President of the Central Long Island Branch of the NAACP, Dr. Reed was sent to jail as a sit-in protester in 1961, and then in 1962 he won a suit against Vic Tanny Health Spas that effectively opened the clubs to African-Americans on Long Island for the first time. He was the first African American dentist in Babylon. In addition to his daughter Dorothy Reed, Dr. Reed is survived by his wife Jane Dwin of 58 years, and his other children, Tobi Connors of Oakland, California, and Eugene Reed Jr., an attorney with the EEOC in Washington, D.C. His grandchildren, Jimi Reed Harris and Melissa Connors also survive him.

Dr. Reed reposed at the Haskgill Funeral Home, Amityville. A funeral mass was said at St. Martin of Tours R.C. Church and burial followed in Long Island National Cemetery at Calverton.