Edward B. Reilly Jr., 60, of Medway, passed away suddenly on Friday, January 8.
Born in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Ed was the eldest son of the late Edward and Minnie Reilly. He graduated from Lebanon High School in 1978 and (then) Shippensburg State College in 1983. Ed was born and raised in PA, but after living in Medway for the past twenty-one years, Massachusetts was his home.
Ed has worked for the Warrell Corporation since 2012, and felt fortunate that his company was based out of Pennsylvania so he could have frequent visits with his brother and sister-in-law. After more than thirty years in the food industry, Ed’s many friends and colleagues fondly remember him as the bald guy with the big smile, great sense of humor, and generous heart.
A lover of all things science fiction, Marvel, and history, Ed carried his family team with his immense knowledge at Friday night virtual trivia. While he would be the last to admit it, Ed was often the smartest person in the room. He had a love of knowledge, for knowledge’s sake.
Ed lived for his family. He was happiest while spending time with his beloved wife, Judy, at the Cape Cod National Seashore in Truro. There he found peace and joy, seeing who could spot the seals first – him or Judy.
But far and above, the light of Ed’s life was his daughter, Meghan. Ed would have moved heaven and earth for her. They shared a love of computer games. Some of Meghan’s favorite memories are of her watching Ed play Call of Duty and Half-Life, where both would share in a collective cheer when he took down a headcrab. Three weeks prior to his passing, Ed learned that Meg was accepted into medical school. It was by far one of the happiest moments of his life, and made the countless hours of watching Grey’s Anatomy together suddenly seem worthwhile.
Though Ed’s life was cut far too short, he is now watching over his beloved Judy and Meg, his siblings: Rich, Suzanne, and Bob, their spouses: Melissa, Tod, and Cassie, and his nieces and nephews: Sherri, Kristy, Aidan, Sydney, Owen, Roan, and Ryker. He is also now the shepherd of his family’s cherished cats and dogs over the rainbow bridge.
In lieu of flowers, his family asks that you consider making a donation to the ACLU. He proudly wore his Colin Kaepernick shirt, and was always looking for ways to support the racial justice movement. But most importantly, we ask that you go out today and do something kind for someone in Ed’s honor.
Judy and Meg want to extend their sincerest gratitude to the Medway Police and Fire Departments, the Millis Fire Department, and the nurses, doctors, and staff at Milford Regional Medical Center. The gratitude we feel for our family, friends, and community knows no bounds; thank you for enveloping us in love and support. Ed’s family will be honoring his memory privately on the shores of Truro, just as he would have wanted.