Henry Reed, a counselor in Disabled Student Program and Services, passed away two weeks ago due to complications from pneumonia. He was 65.

A memorial service was held in his honor last Friday at the Student Services plaza. Over 300 people came to share in a remembrance of the man.

“Henry had lots of friends,” said Marty Kinrose, a friend of Reed’s for 30 years.

“He was spontaneous, passionate, hilarious, sometimes x-rated,” Kinrose said.

“For so many, he was a sounding board, a great listener and a voice of wisdom in a world where wisdom seems to have become quite scarce.”

Most students who knew Reed knew him as a counselor who helped them achieve academic success despite personal challenges.

And many who shared memories of Reed mentioned a smile and friendliness that eased them through even the toughest times.

“You always knew my name when I felt like a no one, and for that, I thank you,” read one of hundreds of similar notes.

Henry Daniel Reed was born Aug. 31, 1946 in Springfield, Ill. The third of four children, Reed was diagnosed early in life with a condition that would eventually consign him to a wheelchair.

At the time, medical treatment for muscular dystrophy was far from what it is now, and doctors told the Reed family more than once that young Henry didn’t have much time to live.

But again and again, Henry Reed proved the doctors wrong.

“Most little boys dream of growing up to be superheroes,” said former associated student senate president Atty Garfinkel. “A few actually get the chance to pull it off,” she said, adding “Henry was our superhero.”

Henry Reed moved with his family to Torrance, Calif., when he was 16.

He eventually made his way to Santa Barbara in 1981, and enrolled in City College.

He originally thought he wanted to be a computer programmer, but quickly found himself too engaged in campus life for that choice.

While pursuing his general education with an interest in psychology, Reed became a vocal advocate for changes to several of the school’s structures to make them more wheelchair friendly.

The Channels interviewed him more than once about that, including one time he described the challenge of organizing multiple wheelchair-bound students in the Garvin Theatre as “like playing Rubik’s cube.”

Reed also was president of a student group committed to seeing more accessibility for wheelchairs campus wide, including the Garvin and La Playa stadium.

In fact, the college owes most of its ramps, automatic doors and special seating arrangements in part to Reed’s efforts.

Dr. Janet Shapiro, the director of DSPS, first met Reed when he was a student here.

After Reed completed his studies at UCSB and then Antioch, she eventually hired him.

At the service, Shapiro likened Reed’s accomplishments for all students with similar circumstances to a thorough moving of a wall, one brick at a time.

Shapiro stressed the tone of the service should be a celebration and asked anyone who wanted to share a memory, poem or song in honor of Reed to do so.

Superintendent-President Dr. Andreea Serban shared the poem “Do Not Stand at my Grave and Weep” by Mary Frye.

One woman, a former student, sang, “Wind Beneath my Wings,” and another read a short, personal poem he wrote in Reed’s honor.

Reed also loved Hawaii, and a small hula troupe of five dancers, including Cami Vignoe, a counselor at the Schall Career Center, swayed to “Somewhere over the Rainbow.”

Finally, Lisa Danhi, an ESL instructor, led the remaining crowd in a song she wrote called “Mahalo,” which is Hawaiin for ‘thank you.’

The event was held on East Campus’ Student Services plaza and lasted almost two hours.

At one point, there were as many people standing as there were sitting in the 160 or so chairs set up for the quiet collection of friends, colleagues and well-wishers.

After the service, Steve Conti, a fellow counselor and friend of Reed’s, shared more.

Conti said Reed was a huge basketball fan, incredibly well read and that his tastes in television veered toward medical documentaries and survival reality TV.

“He loved the wilderness shows,” said Conti.

“Where they survived on a match and whatever they could scavenge.”

The SBCC Foundation has established a memorial scholarship in Reed’s name to be presented each year at the same sight of last week’s service.