Carol Elizabeth Reade
Carol Elizabeth Reade, 62, of Mountain View passed away on December 1, 2023 from complications of metastatic breast cancer. Carol faced the disease with optimism and determination and fought fiercely to maximize time with her son. She passed peacefully at home, surrounded by loving friends and family.
Carol was born on December 2, 1960 to Dortha and Richard Reade and grew up in Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia. Her idyllic childhood as an 'Aramco brat' was filled with family adventures caravanning across the desert, camping at a deserted oasis in Ein Dar, and going on quests in Jabrin for fossilized shells and ancient artifacts. Her childhood abroad served to develop an appreciation of all cultures, a zest for travel, a sophisticated palate, and many close and lifelong friends. Sent to the states for high school, Carol attended San Domenico school before studying Business at San Jose State University.
An early Silicon Valley entrepreneur, Carol started her own company, It's About Time, to help people who needed a personal assistant, organizer, and even chef. Eventually she was helping people find short term housing, which led her to buy and fix up rental properties, and ultimately become a Five-Star AirBnb host. Her properties are uniquely saturated with color and infused with an intimate soulful ambiance. Carol prided herself on giving guests an exceptional experience and her good humor and generous spirit made her an ideal host. She loved to meet people from around the world - to share a delicious meal, exchange ideas with an open mind, and often, cultivate a new friendship.
Additionally Carol assisted doctors from Soviet Georgia to find local internships through A Call To Serve; co-founded Laurel Play Gardens, a preschool in San Jose that values diversity, openness, and family; kept bees in an effort to help the planet; and donated generously with her time and money to charities for medical research and political refugees.
In 1999 Carol married Mickey Mestel, and her pride and joy, son Kai Zuri was born in 2002. Carol was a dedicated and wonderful mother. She volunteered at Waldorf school while Kai was young, home-schooled him for high school, and instilled in him an appreciation and respect for all people and cultures. Carol and Kai enjoyed traveling the world together and shared adventures in India, Iceland, Greece, Turkey, Japan, Scandinavia and more. Carol also looked after her mom who moved in with her during Covid. With a loving and generous heart, Carol nurtured and supported her multigenerational household even through her battles with cancer.
Carol loved spending time in her garden: listening to the fountains, watching the hummingbirds, reading a good book, or sipping tea, all with a cat nestled in her lap. She relished fresh wholesome food; cultivating relationships with local farmers, distributing the catch of the day from San Francisco fisherman, and supporting community kitchens in San Francisco and Berkeley. If you wanted to know the best restaurants in an area, Carol's recommendations did not disappoint.
She was a free spirit who always looked for and found the best in people. She enriched the lives of so many long term friends. When Carol hugged you, you felt her love. She was full of self confidence and inspired others. Carol would ask, 'What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?' and encourage you to pursue your dream.
Carol was predeceased by her father Richard Reade. She is survived by her cherished son Kai Zuri Reade, her 100 year old mother Dortha Reade formerly of San Francisco, loving brother Robert Reade of Berlin, Connecticut, and other extended family.
Friends and family are invited to celebrate Carol's life at Laurel Play Gardens School, 1050 Park Avenue, San Jose on Saturday February 10th, 2024 from 1 to 4pm. Because so many friends are dispersed, kindly rsvp to celebrate.carolreade@gmail.com to assist in the planning of the celebration. Color is encouraged, especially orange.