Joseph A. Reyes

Joseph A. Reyes, Beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather, and Great Grandfather Joseph passed away peacefully on March 3, 2021 in his sleep at home in Potomac, Maryland at the age of 94, surrounded by family. Joseph was deeply loved and will be profoundly missed by his children, J. Christopher Reyes (Anne), M. Jude Reyes (Lori), David K. Reyes (Pamela), William F. Reyes (Annie), John J. Reyes (Caroline), James V. Reyes (Jennifer), Thomas A. Reyes (Angela) and grandchildren, Stephen, Andrew, Carrie, Lilly, Jordan, Sara, Grace, Terese, Cameron, Camille, Joseph, Andrew, Jack, Audrey, Calvin, Maggie, Alex, GoGo, Theodore, Sebastian, Nick, Jane, Katherine, and Virginia, and one Great Grandson, Oliver. He was predeceased by his wife, Frances Collins Reyes, Son, Stephen Reyes and Daughter, Julia Reyes Taubman (Robert Taubman).

Joseph Avelardo Reyes was born on Ocker Street in San Antonio, Texas on February 12th, 1927, the eldest child of Joe and Anita Reyes. A child of the depression, raised in a house originally without indoor plumbing, Joe nevertheless enjoyed a carefree childhood full of football, swimming and double features. He also was a Boy Scout who achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. The Reyes family moved to 136 Furnish Avenue where he attended Breckenridge grade school as well as St. Phillips Catholic Church for weekly Mass. Eventually Joe would be joined in the Reyes family by sisters Irene and Irma and younger brother Jerry.

When World War II broke out Joe was still in high school. Like millions of Americans, he answered the call to duty by enlisting in the Navy. By 1949 he received his pilot wings to become a Naval aviator and when the country was embroiled in the Korean conflict in 1950, he flew over fifty combat missions off the deck of the USS Bon Homme Richard as a dive bomber pilot. His call sign was “Tiger Joe,” most appropriately.

When the Korean war ended Joe came back to Washington and met the love of his life, Frances Marie Collins. They married at St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church in Washington DC on February 16th, 1952 and bought a home in the city. Joe took advantage of the GI Bill and finished his college degree, with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland. He took a job with Westinghouse and in 1957 moved to Baltimore, Maryland.

Over the course of the fifties and the sixties, Joe and Franny were busy raising a family with Christopher (52), Michael (55), David (57), William (58), John (61), James (63), Stephen (64), Julia Ann (67) and Thomas (69). He would eventually become a beloved grandfather to 24 grandchildren and one great grandchild.

By 1962 the family moved from Baltimore to Bethesda, Maryland and soon thereafter Joe hung his shingle out by establishing his own consulting company, JA Reyes Associates. His entrepreneurial spirit led to other endeavors from beer distributorships to banking but he kept his consulting company throughout, operating from his primary office at 1633 16th Street NW. Joe and Franny Reyes moved to Potomac, Maryland in 1982 where they lived out the rest of their years.

Joe Reyes was a parishioner of St Jane Frances DeChantal in Bethesda as well as Our Lady of Mercy in Potomac, Maryland. He was a faithful Catholic who was awarded membership into the Knights of Malta Society for his charitable works. He also had a special relationship with the Order of Carmelite nuns. He was a member of the University Club, Congressional and Bethesda Country Clubs. He was a former board member of the University of Maryland Engineering School, as well as prior board affiliations with Montgomery College, St. Mary’s University Incarnate Word University, the Boy Scouts of America, Washington DC Revitalization Board Member and the National Park Foundation Board Member. He was also Chairman Emeritus at Reyes Holdings.

Joe Reyes had a vacation house in Acapulco, a villa that he purchased from John Wayne. He traveled throughout the world but mostly loved his adopted hometown of Washington. His main hobby was reading, and he maintained a massive library of books throughout his life. Mostly, Joe Reyes was a family man who devoted himself to his wife of 62 years, Franny, his family, friends, community, Church and nation. He will be dearly missed by all.

A private funeral mass will be held for family at 10:45 am, Tuesday, March 9, at St. Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church in Bethesda, Maryland (9601 Old Georgetown Road).

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name at Catholic Charities Archdicese of Washington, 924 G Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20001 or Catholic Charities DC Here