John Reilly
September 19, 1915 - October 20, 2017
Obituary
John J. Reilly of Madison, age 102, one month, and one day, passed away on Oct. 20, 2017 at Oakwood Village University Woods. He was born September 19, 1915 in New York City to Patrick Reilly and Mary Brady Reilly, Irish immigrants both. He grew up in Manhattan, and graduated from St. John’s University in Queens, earning his business degree as one of the original “working adult students.” He worked almost his entire career on the banking and credit side of the garment industry, rising to senior executive with United Merchants and Manufacturers and then Crocker Bank. On September 7, 1946 he married Margaret Cunningham, a match that would enrich both their lives immensely for 48 years before her death in 1994.
After he retired, he served as President of his Parish Council, and was an active volunteer for Meals on Wheels and in driving patients to doctor appointments. He was an inveterate reader, especially of Irish literature and history, and The New York Times. A fan of Notre Dame football and the NY Giants and Jets, he added the Badgers and Packers to his fandom after moving to Wisconsin to be closer to family. Smart, civil, grounded, generous, a good listener of quiet dignity, he was a wonderful husband, father, and family patriarch.
He is survived by his son Kevin and wife Kate, grandchildren Liam (Ariel), Adriana (Elliot), and Darvin, great-grandchildren Joanna, Patrick, and Malique, sister-in-law Helenmarie Cunningham, and a host of nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 602 Everglade Dr., Madison, at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28. There will be a visitation at the Church before the Mass from 8:45-9:45 a.m.
We would like to thank the staff at Oakwood Village University Woods, especially Wendy Zimmick and Karla Richgels, for their committed care for him in the last four years. He had well-deserved faith and confidence in Dr. Orest Kostelyna of SSM Health, who, with his clinic team and then his hospice team, helped make a long life livable. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Oakwood Foundation (Oakwood.org) or the St. Vincent DePaul Society of Madison (svdpmadison.org).
To view and sign this guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com .
Joyce-Ryan Funeral Home
& Cremation Services
5701 Odana Road
608-274-1000