Obituary

Kass Reda Obituary

Our beloved father Kazimierz “Kass” Reda passed away peacefully in his sleep on December 17, 2019. Kass was born on March 5, 1934 to Bronislaw and Anna Reda in Bialystok Poland.  He was the middle child and had six siblings, three brothers and three sisters.   He had a very challenging childhood but it didn’t deter his course of great achievement and a life well lived.  When he was four years old, his family was placed on sleds in the middle of the night and sent to Siberia by the Russian troops during World War II.   The children were split up among several orphanages while his parents toiled in labor camps.  There were separated for three years and Kass even forgot how to speak Polish.   His family was amongst the last of the families to leave Siberia due to General Anders deal with Stalin to create a Polish Army.  His oldest brother was old enough to join the Polish Army and that was their ticket out of Siberia.  They lived in various camps in Iran, Palestine, Lebanon until the war was over. After the war, his family decided to move to England. Kass finished his education in Mechanical Engineering including a Master’s degree and he specialized in machine tooling.  He also had many accomplishments in soccer and volleyball.  He played on the British National Volleyball team and they won the world championship.   In his late 20s while on vacation, he met his future wife, Halina, who was living with his cousin. They fell madly in love over two weeks.  Mom joined dad in England two years later.  They were married in England and ten months later, their daughter Alexandra was born.

Kass dreamed of living in America.  He fondly remembered American Soldiers giving him chewing gum as a boy. Soon after Alex was born, the family moved to Toronto, Canada for a new job opportunity that also near his sister, Flora.  Two years later, they moved to America to Trumbull, Connecticut for a new job with the Producto Company, in Bridgeport, CT.  He was a brilliant engineer and invented many revolutionary machines. He worked at several machine tool companies and his greatest accomplishments were with the Bryant Grinder Company.  He was listed as an inventor on seven US patents.  His son Greg was born in Connecticut three years after Alex.  Kass was sought after by many companies and rose the ranks to be Vice President for several companies.  He retired after 40 years as a Vice President of Engineering.

He retired in 1999 and enjoyed his life in California.  Soon five grandchildren Andrew, Matthew, Meghan, Lauren and Stephen arrived. He was very involved with his children and grandchildren’s lives and he made a significant impact on all of them. He taught them the importance of getting their education, being respectful of others, working hard and striving to realize their dreams.  He never complained about any adversity but embraced every opportunity. He was the most optimistic person and truly believed everything would work out the way it should, God’s way.  He adored his beautiful wife Halina of 54 years.  Kass enjoyed social events and was a great dancer.  Kass and Halina would clear the dance floor with their Polka. He enjoyed a good chardonnay and cognac. He was a devout Catholic and attended mass every Sunday.    He touched so many lives by his vast interests in many topics especially history, politics, religion and sports.  He was a sports enthusiast loving soccer, volleyball, basketball and American football.  He loved to watch the Celtics, Red Sox and New England Patriots.

He loved God and is resting peacefully in heaven.  He truly lived a full life and fulfilled the American dream.  He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and acquaintances.  He is survived by his wife Halina Reda, daughter Alexandra Rehmeier, her husband James Rehmeier, son Greg Reda, his wife Wendy Reda, grandchildren Andrew, Lauren and Meghan Rehmeier, Matthew and Stephen Reda, his brother Alfred, Reda, and Sisters Mary Sacharewicz, Flora Kazimowicz and Jasia Sujecki.  Sto lat until we meet again in heaven.

  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Kilian Catholic Church, Mission Viejo, CA.   We will celebrate his life on Monday December 23^rd, at St. Kilian Catholic Church in Mission Viejo at 10:30am. Burial is followed at Pacific View Memorial Park in Corona Del Mar.  Reception to follow at the Reda household.