Family, Friends Say Final Goodbye To Garrett Reid
By Mike DeNardo, Ben Simmoneau, and Kim Glovas
BROOMALL, Pa. (CBS) – About 900 people turned out today at funeral services to remember the joyful but troubled life of Garrett Reid, the oldest son of Philadelphia Eagles' head coach Andy Reid. Services took place at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Broomall.
Garrett Reid, 29, was found dead Sunday morning in his dorm room at Lehigh University, the site of the Eagles' training camp.
The funeral service was attended by dozens of present and past players, as well as numerous representatives from around the National Football League.
Some of those standing in line included NFL commissioner Roger Goodell; Eagles' owner Jeffrey Lurie; Eagles' general manager Howie Roseman; Cleveland Browns president Mike Holmgren; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick; and former Eagles Jeremiah Trotter, Brian Westbrook, and Ron Jaworski.
In addition, the entire team of current Eagles players was brought in on several buses from Lehigh University.
Baltimore Ravens' head coach John Harbaugh, a former Eagles assistant, said his friend Andy seemed to be holding up well.
"He was very much himself," Harbaugh said today. "He was comforting us. He wrapped me up in a big bear hug and he told me everything was going to be all right."
Jeffrey Lurie, the Eagles' owner, says it was a moving service:
"It was filled with grief and love. And that's the nature of sadness. As it was said, there's not a lot of grief if you don't love, and not a lot of love if you don't grieve. They go hand in hand."
Lurie said that while everyone grieves in their own way, he wouldn't be surprised to see Andy Reid back at work, along the sidelines, for Thursday's preseason opener.
Reid released a statement Monday calling his son a "fighter" who faced "tremendous personal challenges."
READ: Andy Reid's Statement On The Death Of His Son, Garrett
The cause of Garrett Reid's death is pending. He had a history of drug abuse.
The Reid family asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Laurel House, a domestic violence shelter. The agency has a strong connection to the Reid family.
Laurel House executive director Beth Sturman said Garrett Reid's mother, Tammy Reid, had been involved in the domestic violence agency for more than a decade. She says Tammy Reid felt blessed to have a loving and supportive husband and family.
"Family is so important to her and she is so concerned for women who live in a different kind of relationship than what she's had, and she's always felt compelled to try to help provide help and support for those who haven't been as fortunate as she has," Sturman explained.
Sturman said Laurel House had been thinking how it could help the Reid family in their time of need, when it was contacted by Tammy Reid's assistant, telling the agency it would be the beneficiary of memorial donations for Garrett.
Donations may be sent to:
The Laurel House
PO Box 764
Norristown, Pa. 19404
