Hugh Edward Reynolds Jr.

Hugh E. Reynolds, Jr. of Pompano Beach Florida, passed away on December 22, 2021, at The Woodlands, John Knox Village, at the age of 92.

Hugh was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on September 17, 1929 to his parents, Hugh and Marita Reynolds. In Indianapolis, Hugh attended St. Joan of Arc Catholic School and Cathedral High School. He received his B.S from the University of Notre Dame in 1950 and his J.D. from the University of Michigan School of Law in 1953.  After graduating from law school, he served active duty in the Army’s Judge Advocate General, attaining the rank of Captain. Following his active duty service, he then served in the Army Reserves and retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1989.

Hugh is survived by his wife, Rita Helen (Schneider) Reynolds. They met in New York while he was serving in the military and they married in 1954.  This past August, they celebrated 67 years of marriage. Hugh is also survived by their four children, Maureen Reynolds, Hugh (Kathy) Reynolds, Tom (Cindi) Reynolds and Paul Reynolds, his seven grandchildren, Marta (Gabe) Pinheiro, Stephen (Meredith) Reynolds, Lauren (Nick) Tomshack, Lindsey (David) Tam, Paige (Chris) Bailey, Brady Reynolds and Elizabeth Reynolds, plus their four great-grandchildren, Sophia Pinheiro, Emilia Reynolds, Elise Tomshack and Evelyn Bailey. Besides his parents, Hugh was preceded in death by his brother, John Reynolds and his sister, Jane Reynolds Darin. 

Hugh began his career practicing litigation law with his father at Slaymaker Locke and Reynolds, which later became Locke Reynolds Boyd & Weisell and then Locke Reynolds.  Hugh became the managing partner of the firm in 1976 and held that position until 1987.  Locke Reynolds eventually merged into Frost Brown Todd where Hugh, in 2010, concluded his more than 55 year career as an attorney. 

During his career, Hugh held numerous leadership positions including, Chair of the Tort and Insurance Practice Section of the ABA, President and Chairman of the Board of the Federation of Insurance & Corporate Counsel and Chair of the Fidelity and Surety Law Committee and Appellate Advocacy Committee of TIPS. He also served as President of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel. Hugh was the 7th Circuit representative to the Standing Committee on Federal Judiciary of the ABA.  He was also honored as one of The Best Lawyers in America from 1996 - 2011.

Hugh was an avid reader and a military history buff.  He loved social gatherings, good food and wine, a competitive board game, painting military miniatures and listening to classical music. A life-long Catholic and an inveterate optimist, Hugh was devoted to his wife and family. He and Rita lived most of their married life in Indianapolis. They moved to southeast Florida in 2006 to be closer to family. Hugh and Rita both loved to travel. Over the years they saw the world together, often sharing those experiences with their children, grandchildren, life-long friends and colleagues.  

A Funeral Mass will be held at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Fort Lauderdale on January 10, 2022, for family and close friends. Hugh’s final resting place will be at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Cemetery in Royal Palm Beach, Florida. There is no scheduled viewing for the public.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for your prayers for Hugh or for a Mass intention to be said in Hugh’s memory.

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