Robert Reiley's Obituary
A native of Indiana, Robert C. Reiley was born in Kendallville, January 10, 1914 the eldest of five sons of Frank C. and Hope B. Reiley. He passed away in Fredericksburg Virginia on the 20th of August 2006. Reiley lived for many years in Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk counties in New York State and over 25 years in Clearwater, Florida.
He graduated from Purdue University in 1936 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
He had been a member of the Indiana National Guard for four years before being commissioned as an officer in the Army Reserve after his graduation from Purdue.
Reiley served during WWII with the Army Chief of Engineers office and was involved in the building of USO buildings and many Army training camps throughout the nation, in the mid-west and western states including Alaska. He attended the Army's highly regarded General Command and Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and was later appointed as Commander-Director of the Army Reserve General Command and Staff College in Hempstead, NY. After his retirement from the Army in 1974, Reiley became the Director of the New York City Hall of Science until his disability retirement in 1976.
A private pilot, Reiley established his own company which specialized in heavy construction equipment and he was well known to reliably fly parts to companies with large equipment breakdowns anywhere in the U.S. He was also an enthusiastic deep water sailor and a ham radio operator. During his lifetime he served his community in a variety of ways, and in a many and diverse leadership positions.
Reiley was an active member of Lions Clubs for over 54 years, achieving many awards and serving as a District Governor in the State of Florida. A lifetime member of Lions Clubs International, he was twice awarded the prestigious Melvin Fellows Award recognizing his compassionate dedication of service to humanity. Reiley served for several years on the Board of Directors of the Central Florida Eye Bank. He was instrumental in getting seeing-eye-dogs for the blind and assisting people to obtain food and health care.
He also served as Director for the Florida Council for the Blind.
Col. Reiley was interested in communications and computers and was a member of the Tampa Bay Computer Association and the Canadian-American Computer Association in Florida.
Col. Reiley had been under the supervisory care of Hospice at his home for the past several months. He is survived by his wife, Carol Reiley of Fredericksburg, Virginia, his son, Robert C. Reiley Jr. and daughter-in-law Jackie Reiley of Reston Virginia, daughter Kate Cash of Florida ,step-daughter Linda Danninger of California, a brother Ted Reiley and sister-in-law Margaret Reiley of California, eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. A charming, compassionate and courageous man of great integrity, he was truly loved by all his family and will be sorely missed.
A military graveside service honoring Col. Reiley will be held on Wednesday, August 30, 2006 at noon in Quantico National Cemetery.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.foundandsons.com.
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