In Memoriam: Reid DeLaubenfels

August 18, 2015

By Laura Brauer

791ad721-af76-4ca5-91c0-980e1288105f_profile

Beautiful family portrait: Blair deLaubenfels with son Reid and husband Bob.

I received a very disturbing text this past Saturday from my pal (and Junebug cofounder) Kim Bamberg about close friend Blair deLaubenfel’s son Reid who, at age 22, had unexpectedly passed away the day before from an accidental head injury. I was instantly grief-stricken and heartbroken.

I never had the privilege of meeting or knowing Reid, but I had listened intently and avidly over the past couple of years to all of proud momma Blair’s wonderful stories of Reid and all of his accomplishments. The champion tennis player (from childhood through college) was the light of his parents’ lives and shared Blair’s same infectious smile and zest for life. Like me, so many of you in the industry are super close friends with Blair and were creatively supported by her when she owned Junebug Weddings, so I know we are all grieving right alongside her, her husband Bob and their entire family. The loss is indescribable and nonsensical.

Blair has been a good friend to all of us, as well as to WPPI and Rangefinder (she speaks at our show and writes for the magazine), so I implore you to give back and help her and her family now, when they need it most. A memorial fund has been set up in Reid’s name to, as close friend (and Junebug co-founder) Christy Weber phrased it, “go towards funeral costs and bring Blair and Bob a little peace of mind and relieve any financial stress they might feel over the next few weeks.”

Contributions in Reid’s name can be made here: Reid deLaubenfels Memorial Fund.

Any questions about this fund can be directed to Christy Weber at weber.christy@gmail.com or Kelley Healey at kelleyehealey@gmail.com.