Robert Eugene Reid

September 13, 1943 - October 1, 2020

Robert Eugene Reid, 77 of Independence, Missouri passed away on October 1, 2020 with his sister and niece at his side. Robert was born on September 13, 1943 in Bucklin, Kansas to Roscoe and Virginia Reid. He graduated from William Chrisman High School in 1961. Robert received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in English Language and Literature in 1964. He graduated from Ohio University with a Master of Science in American Literature and with a Doctor of Philosophy in Nineteenth-Century British Literature in 1967. Robert was fluent in English, French, and German. Robert started his career as an Associate Professor at the University of Georgia. He went on to work abroad at a variety of universities. Most recently, he was a Full Professor and Chair of the Division of English and Applied Linguistics at the University of Guam from 1994-2004, a Professor and Associate Dean of the Culture and Heritage Division of the United Arab Emirates University from 2004-2007, and a Professor and Chair of the Department of Languages at the University of Nizwa from 2007-2009. Robert was an author. His work was published in multiple journals. He published many short stories and his work was featured in many books. In 2007, he published his own book, “Stories of the Sky God”. Robert dedicated his years of retirement as an active member of Pen America, a human rights organization protecting open expression in the United States and Worldwide. He was very active in advocacy work to facilitate the release of authors imprisoned and held captive due to their expression related to opposing dictatorships in middle eastern countries. Robert was himself, a survivor of being imprisoned, held captive, and tortured in a middle eastern country. He used his experience to help others to survive similar situations and make their way to freedom. Robert is survived by his sister, Dr. Janet Reid, and his niece, Heidi Garrett-McClain, of Independence, Missouri; his daughters, Amy Dizney, Laura Vaughn, and Sara Dizney of Florida; and his daughter, Megan Reid of North Carolina. He was preceded in death by his parents, Roscoe and Virginia Reid, and, his sister Connie Garrett (Reid) of Independence, Missouri. The family will hold a private memorial service to be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Pen America.