REILLY, John A. (Ret. BFD) of Roslindale, formerly of Jamaica Plain. July 17, 2018. Age 87. Beloved husband of the late Vivian Lee (Newbrandt) Reilly. Amazing father to John "Jay" Reilly and his wife Ann of Brockton, Elizabeth Reilly and her husband Jeff Riklin of Newton, Barbara Martin and her husband Daniel of Roslindale, Philip Reilly and his wife Joanne of Roslindale, and Margaret Thompson and her husband Michael of Stoughton. Proud “Grampie” of Jessica Martin, Andrew Reilly, Allison, Eric and Leah Riklin. Only son of the late John A. Reilly and the late Edith V. (O’Reilly) Reilly. Older brother of the late Marjorie E. Puopolo and the late Catherine A. Reilly. Uncle to John N. Puopolo and the late Nicholas A. Puopolo. Also survived by many cousins. US Navy Korean War Veteran. Boston Fire Department Engine 42 Retired. Devoted long time member of the USS Hyman Association DD732 and the Boston Gaelic Fire Brigade. Ambassador for the Boston Fire Department’s MDA fundraising. https://firefighters.mda.org/
Born in Jamaica Plain in 1930, John attended Our Lady of Lourdes parish school and Charlestown High School. He joined the US Navy in 1951 during the Korean War, then worked recycling automotive alternators in Brighton, and soon married Vivian Lee Newbrandt in 1958. After being appointed to the Boston Fire Department in 1958, stationed at Engine 40 in East Boston before transferring to Engine 42, Roxbury, John helped raise (5) children in Roslindale and provided endless hours of home-made fun for the family. John was an active member of Sacred Heart Church until his illness, and participated in many Parish Variety Shows as well as the Cub Scout/Webelo Pack 7. After 37 years, his retirement from the BFD Engine 42 came in 1995. Then John enjoyed traveling with his wife (without pets or children), attending Navy reunions, swimming in the city pools, and bowling with the seniors. He was first in line to volunteer with a tool in his van and loved his workshop “down the cellar” (never “basement”). As a recent amputee, the loss of both van and cellar, while disappointing to him, was outweighed by his devoted children and ever present iPad.
Visiting hours at the P.E. Murray–F.J. Higgins, George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 2000 Centre St., West Roxbury Thursday, July 26, from 4:00 PM–8:00 PM. Funeral from the funeral home on Friday, July 27 at 10:30 AM followed by a Funeral Mass in Sacred Heart Church, 169 Cummins Hwy, Roslindale at 11:30 AM. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Interment New Calvary Cemetery, Mattapan. In lieu of flowers, donations in John’s memory may be made to Sacred Heart Church, 169 Cummins Highway, Roslindale, MA 02131 or a charity of your choice.