Reginald J. A. Behan, a longtime resident of Rye, N.Y., died of natural causes in Brentwood, Tenn., at the age of 100 on Feb. 23, 2024. He often attributed his longevity to the fact that he ate well and exercised his entire life.
He was born in Liverpool, England, on May 31, 1923, the son of Edith Alice (Ascroft) and Fred Vincent Behan.
Reggie, as he was known, graduated from high school and technical college in England, and served in the British Home Guard as a platoon sniper during World War II.
After the war, he became an electrical engineer with the English Electric Corporation/GEC Measurements in Canada and the United States.
In 1952, he moved to Toronto, Canada, where he met his future wife, Jean Lillian Edwards, on the tennis courts at the Toronto Racquet Club. They were married on September 11, 1952, and settled in St. Catharines, Ontario, where their daughters were born. In 1959, English Electric relocated Mr. Behan to New York City, where he had an office at One Park Avenue for many years. The Behans settled in Rye, where they remained residents for 53 years.
For years, Reggie Behan was an avid tennis player at Manursing Island Club; and in his later years he was a regular on the Rye Golf Club course. He gave up tennis when his knees failed but refrained from using a golf cart and insisted on walking the course, noted his family.
He was active in the Dad’s Club at Rye High School when his daughters were students. A longtime member of Christ’s Church Rye, he was a regular usher and reader.
Mr. Behan retired from English Electric in 1989.
He was predeceased by his wife Jean and his sister, Barbara. He is survived by his brother, Christopher Behan of Brill, Buckinghamshire, England, and his sister, Elizabeth Behan of Gosford, New South Wales, Australia. He is also survived by his two daughters, Jill Schutzman (Robert) of Ellicott City, Md. and Lesley Ford (David) of Brentwood, Tenn.; his grandchildren, Jason Ford, Eric Ford, Justin Schutzman, and Lindsay Schutzman; and his four great-grandchildren, Thomas Ford, Theo Ford, David Ford, and Genesis Munoz.
A private service was held. Donations in Reggie Behan’s memory may be made to the charity of your choice. And, if you are so inclined, he would have loved to recruit you as a fan of the Everton Football Club.
