I was truly saddened to learn of the passing of Rod Reid. I send my condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues in the physics department.

Although I never had Rod as an instructor in graduate school, I always appreciated his enthusiasm for physics, his genuine warm personality, and his interest in students. A memory that particularly stands out is when I was nervously standing in the hallway on the fourth floor waiting for the committee to render their decision on my qualifying exam performance. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Rod down the hall, but I was too preoccupied to look at anyone or thing but the wall in front of me. When the members of the committee emerged and gave me the good news, Rod came over immediately. He had a big smile on his face as shook my hand and said congratulations, well done. His spontaneous, warm response really made me feel good and feel as if I were an important member of the department.