Obituary of Richard R Reilly

Richard R. Reilly Attorney and devoted father and husband Richard R. Reilly passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 31st, 2015, surrounded by his devoted family, after a courageous, objective, and dignified bout with pancreatic cancer. He was 63 years old. Richard was born on December 22nd, 1951 to Frank B. and Kathleen E. Reilly. He resided in Glen Ridge for many years, and recently moved to West Orange. Richard graduated from Rutgers University in 1973 where he was the editor of The Daily Targum, the campus daily newspaper, and was active in many campus political organizations. He graduated from Fordham University School of Law in 1980 where he was a member of The Law Review and received a L.L.M. Taxation from New York University School of Law in 1984. Richard was a partner for many years at Coudert Brothers LLP, where he served as chair of its Employment and Employee Benefits Practice Group. Richard was a partner with the international law firm of Baker & McKenzie, and was a member of the Firm’s Global Compensation & Employment Law and the North America Corporate & Securities practice groups. Richard had a long and distinguished legal career and specialized in Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits aspects of domestic and international corporate transactions, securities offerings, and financings. He will be very much missed by his colleagues and clients. Richard was a devoted and loving father and husband. He was a student of literature and Irish and Spanish history and became a citizen of the Republic of Ireland. He enjoyed gardening, boxing, golf, travel, and was a talented and accomplished cook, brew master and a connoisseur of fine wine. Richard was the master of family parties, which featured expertly prepared multicourse dinners consisting of authentic Irish and Spanish food. Richard was ever the welcoming and generous host, and was extremely compassionate and sharing to his six siblings and many nieces and nephews, as well as his wife Vivianne’s family in Puerto Rico. Richard was also a low-handicap member of the Upper Montclair Country Club, where he was a passionate weekend golfer, winner of the 2009 Eagle Club Award, and served as a judge at a PGA event at the club. Richard was truly a Renaissance man. Richard filled his family’s life with love, good music, good food, and imparted to his children a deep love of literature, the arts, culture and travel. He provided unwavering support to his children in all of their endeavors, was an example of hard work, talent, and determination, and led a life worth aspiring to. Richard will be deeply missed by his family and all those who knew him. Richard was predeceased by his parents and his youngest son, Brendan. He is survived by his loving wife of 37 years, Vivianne (Roig) Reilly, his children, Kevin M. Reilly (Kate) and Nora K. Reilly, his siblings Kathleen A. George (Andy), Frank B. Reilly (Cathy), Daniel J. Reilly (Kathy), Eileen R. Morton (Robert), Robert P. Reilly (Marge), and Marian R. Cardace (Thomas). In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Richard’s name to the Lustgarten Foundation (www.lustgarten.org), an organization that is dedicated to pancreatic cancer research.