HISTORY

MARTIN REID grew up in Westbury where he attented Drexel Elementary, Westbury Junior High and Westbury Senior High School. He received his B.A. degree at Oswego State College. 

In September of 1976 he began his teaching career at Westbury Junior High School. A year later he transferred to the Senior High School where he taught English. That same year, he was named junior varsity basketball coach. During that time he was also the recreation director at New Cassel Park, which gave him the opportunity to maintain frequent contact with the high school students. He eventually would become a mentor and role model to several of these young men. 

In, 1979, he was named the varsity basketball coach.  Six years later in 1985, he won the New York State Championship. In 1988, he was promoted to the assistant Principal of Westbury Senior High School, a function he performed with great distinction, yet kept coaching the varsity team as his first love.

On April 22, 1993 Martin "Bunky" Reid succumbed to the dreadful disease of colon cancer.  "Bunky" Reid was recongized as an educator and as a basketball coach; but to those that knew him best, he was most and foremost a gentleman for whom time with his kids and family was precious.  Mike Candel of the Newsday described him as "a gentleman whose quiet strength produced consistency".

Michael Jackson formed the "Bunky" Reid All-Stars.  In tribute to his high school coach, Mike voluntarily accepted and deeply appreciated the opportunity to serve the youth from at-risk communities.  Mike's dedication to the youth in the Westbury communnity is a fine example of his own experience as a youth growing up in Westbury  and fully benefiting from the strong mentorship of "Bunky" Reid.  In his senior year, Mike captained his high school team and was named as "All Long Island Player".  He earned his B.A. in Sociology from Hofstra University and is now employed wih the Village of Westbury Recreation Department.

Article Written in 1993, by J.P. Pelzman

Staff Writer

       Westbury High School boys basketball coach Martin Reid died yesterday morning after a long battle with colon cancer.  He was 41.

       The news of Mr. Reid's death shocked the administrators, faculty and students of the school, even though they knew Mr. Reid had been very ill.  "As long as he was here, there was always hope," said Westbury Athletic Director Stu Friedman.  The school canceled all athletic events scheduled for yesterday.

       Mr. Reid coached Westbury for 14 seasons, and in that span he won seven league titles, one county title, and one state title.  But those facts tell very little about a man whom everyone remembered as much more than a basketball coach and assistant principal.

       "He didn't live for himself," said Friedman.  "He lived for the kids.  That's what kept him going.  He never talked about himself or the pain he was in.  His concern was always the kids."

       And not just his players.  "Bunky", said Ed Krinsky, referring to Mr. Reid by his nickname, "touched everyone."  Krinsky, a former Westbury administrator and basketball coach, coached Mr. Reid in his playing days and later gave him his first coaching position, as a volunteer assistant.  "The kids knew Bunky was a friend," said Krinsky.  "Westbury basketball wasn't his life.  The Westbury community was his life."

       Mr. Reid graduated from Westbury HIgh School in 1969, and then went to State University at Oswego where he majored in English.  He earned a master's degree in psychology at New York University.  He began teaching English at Westbury in 1977, and later became assistant principal.

     "Bunky always wanted kids to do well," said Krinsky.  "BAsketball was his means of expression.  He felt it gave Westbury pride."  Mr. Reid won the state title in 1985.

      Mr. reid had been ill with cancer for the past five years, but continued to coach.  "All he thought about was his players," said Krinsky.  "He showed us how to live with dignity while suffering the most excruciating pain, both physically and emotionally."

      Mr. Reid continued to do that until the end.  Last week, Krinsky said, Mr. Reid met with SUNY Stony Brook coach Bernard Tomlin, who was recruiting two Westbury players.  "He didn't say anything about his own situation," Krinsky said.

     Mr. Reid, who was single, is survived by his mother, Julia, of Westbury; his father, Luther, who lives in upstate New York; and his brothers Calvin, of South Carolina, and Brian, of California.  Funeral arrangements are incomplete.