Frank Engelhart Reed

Frank Engelhart Reed, of Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania died peacefully at Chestnut Hill Hospital on Sunday, October 18, 2026. He was 91 years old. Frank leaves a lasting legacy of commitment to his family, friends, work and community.

Frank was born in Orange, NJ, to Ruth and Harvey Reed and raised in Short Hills NJ. Frank's work ethic was likely established around the age of four, when his mother kept him busy by giving him a bucket of water and a big paintbrush and asking him to paint a stone wall in the backyard, inevitably it would dry before he could finish and he would have to start again; Frank wryly recalled.

A banker all his life, Frank began his career in New York City working at several banks until he found his home at Morgan Guarantee (JP Morgan) as Senior Vice President. In 1984, he accepted the position of President of First Pennsylvania Bank, which then merged with Corestates Philadelphia National Bank, Frank served as Chief Executive Officer of the merged institution until his retirement in February 1995. His love of finance and his reputation for fiscal responsibility led to invitations to serve on numerous corporate boards, including The Hill at Whitemarsh, Alltel, Harleysville Group, Sprint 360, Windstream, Friends of the Wissahickon, and Chestnut Hill Hospital.

He attended Amherst College and it was there that he met Ann Livingston, his wife of 69 years.  Ann was a student at neighboring Smith College. Frank proposed days before their graduation on a bridge on the Smith campus and they were married later that year. Ann and Frank began their married life in Summit, New Jersey , where they raised their two boys, Jeff and Tim, and built a close knit community. When they moved to Mount Airy, Pennsylvania in 1984, they immediately became part of the fabric of that community through their involvement in the Philadelphia Horticultural Society, The Morris Arboretum, and the Mural Arts Project amongst others. In 2024 Frank and Ann moved to The Hill at Whitemarsh where Frank was a founder and where he served as president of the board. Frank modeled a level of commitment and service to community, a legacy that carries on through his children and grandchildren.

Frank, along with Ann, built a family home in Freedom, New Hampshire in the late 1970s where the family gathered over the years and throughout the seasons. The family holds many fond memories of spending time with them on the lake enjoying the outdoors no matter the season.  Frank loved a good sunset and knew when it was the perfect time to run down to the lake and snap a picture. It was this house in New Hampshire where Frank recharged and filled his days maintaining the property; in all things he did he was meticulous, and the wood that he split and stacked stood through all weather.

A dedicated father and grandfather, Frank supported and encouraged his family’s endeavors.  He was an intent listener, good questioner, and solid advice giver. Frank loved a good prank and was known for telling the occasional tall tale to gullible family members with the straightest of faces. He was an avid reader of history, both biographies and historical narratives about the founding of the United States.

An avid traveler, Frank and Ann set off to far flung places and always came back with appreciation and awe as well as an amazing slide show. Among many memorable trips are those to Spain, Turkey, Ireland, Morocco, Switzerland, Japan, Hong Kong, China, Scotland, Russia, Thailand, Vietnam, South Africa, New Zealand, Ecuador, Chile, Norway, and places across the United States for fly fishing and photography workshops. While Frank and Ann traveled extensively, the place they returned to most often was the island of Barbuda where they formed lasting friendships.

In addition to his wife, Frank is survived by his son, Jeffrey Reed (Jennifer) of Newbury, Massachusetts, his son Timothy Reed (Kim) of Rye, New Hampshire, and his cherished grandchildren: Madeleine (Ryan) and Nicholas (Jackie), Liz, and Katie. Frank is survived by his brother Ed Reed. He was predeceased by his brother Doug Reed.  

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Frank's memory may be made to the Fox chase Cancer Center (https://www.foxchase.org/giving).

Arrangements by Joseph Levine & Sons www.levinefuneral.com