SCARBOROUGH – Members of the Scarborough boys’ soccer team wore white T-shirts Wednesday bearing the words “Buddy #10” to pay tribute to Buddy Reid, a former standout athlete at Scarborough High School who died unexpectedly Monday. He was 19.
“It’s a tremendous tribute to him,” his father, Bill Reid, said Thursday. “Many of the kids didn’t know Buddy on a personal level, but they knew of him and knew what a great player and person he was. They looked up to him for that.”
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Buddy Reid grew up in Scarborough and began playing soccer at age 5. In 2006, during his freshman year in high school, he earned a spot on the boys’ varsity team. His goal in the 63rd minute gave the Red Storm a 1-0 victory over Westbrook in the Western Class A championship.
As a freshman, sophomore and junior, Mr. Reid was selected for The Maine Sunday Telegram All-State soccer team.
Mr. Reid also played for the Scarborough boys’ ice hockey and lacrosse teams.
In his senior year, he transferred to a boarding school in New York state.
Mr. Reid was remembered by his friends and teammates Thursday as a standout athlete who excelled on and off the field. “He was kind of like a soccer prodigy in Scarborough,” said Nate Hathaway, a lifelong friend who lives next door to the Reids and played soccer with Buddy. “He inspired me and a lot of other kids to play.”
Mr. Reid went on to play for the men’s soccer team at the University of Southern Maine, playing in all eight games this season. USM coach Mike Keller said Thursday that Mr. Reid was a talented player who had a great knowledge of the game.
“He was always one of the first ones at practice and always had a ball at his feet,” Keller said. “Buddy was such a brilliant young man with so much potential. I’m so saddened that this happened.”
USM’s soccer team is planning to honor Mr. Reid at its game Sunday.
His father and mother, Karen Reid, of Scarborough, spoke Thursday about their son’s death. Buddy Reid took his own life Monday. His father said he may have suffered from depression and anxiety, but the family didn’t see any signs that he was struggling.
“I’m devastated and shocked and surprised,” his father said. “He was headed in a good direction with school and playing soccer. We all thought he was doing well.”
His mother said that he was a quiet and reserved kid, but seemed to be coming out of his shell. She said he was a kind soul who had a great sense of humor.
“I love him,” she said. “I’m looking at a beautiful picture of him right now with a big smile on his face. That’s how I’ll remember him. He will be missed by all.”
Mr. Reid had worked at Ken’s Place seafood restaurant in Scarborough on and off for the past two years.
He had a passion for music and taught himself to play the guitar.
By Thursday afternoon, dozens of his friends and teammates posted messages on Mr. Reid’s Facebook wall.
Hathaway, his friend, said Mr. Reid was liked by everyone. He said Mr. Reid was humble, kind, creative and had a catchy laugh.
“It’s shocking and hard to comprehend,” Hathaway said. “The reality is setting in. It’s very depressing and kind of unbelievable.”
Staff Writer Melanie Creamer can be contacted at 791-6361 or at: mcreamer@pressherald.com
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