John Joseph Reilly

John Joseph Reilly, age 90, of Darien, CT and Vero Beach, Florida, passed away peacefully on January 13, 2026 in Vero Beach, Florida. Born to Abina and John Reilly on December 27, 1935 in Bronx, New York, John lived a full and vibrant life defined by his devotion to his family, his community and an unwavering love of New York sports.

John was the loving husband of Ann Marie and a devoted and caring father to Peg, Dennis, and Michael. He was the proud and cherished grandfather of Julianne, Evan, and Emma. Together, John and Ann built a life centered on faith and family—welcoming their children, baptizing them, and then introducing them to one of John's greatest passions by taking them to a Giants game.

A lifelong and ardent fan of the New York Giants and New York Yankees, John's loyalty to his teams was legendary. He was present at the 1958 "Greatest Game Ever Played" at Yankee Stadium and could recount each play and every field position of the Giants throughout the entire game. His encyclopedic knowledge of team history, scores, and players was matched only by his enthusiasm. John and his family were fortunate to attend the Giants' Super Bowl victories in 1987 and 1991, moments he treasured deeply. His devotion to the Giants was such that Wellington Mara would send him a Christmas card.

Of equal stature in John's heart were the New York Yankees. He fondly shared stories with his grandson Evan about growing up in New York playing stickball and making trips to the bleachers at Yankee Stadium with his brother Kevin, gloves in hand, hoping to catch a home run ball. He relished the rhythm of the baseball seasons and the anticipation of the many Yankee World Series that defined his ups and downs with the team.

John instilled his love of sports in his children, coaching little league and local basketball teams. Many happy family memories were created at Darien and New Canaan High School fields supporting his sons Dennis and Mike, and his grandson Evan, as their teams left it all on the field. John was renowned in the family for coaching everyone on their golf swing, saying his magic coaching line, "it's just like swinging a baseball bat".

Later in life, John became an avid runner and was honored to be selected to carry the 1984 Olympic Torch as it passed through Stamford, Connecticut, on its way to the coliseum in Los Angeles for the 1984 Summer Olympics. He and Ann attended those games and proudly witnessed the United States team win numerous gold medals.

A true New Yorker, John attended LaSalle Academy, which laid the foundation for his lifelong pursuit of academic and professional excellence. He went on to attend Fordham University on a basketball scholarship, graduating Summa Cum Laude in Accounting. He later earned his MBA from Baruch College. John built a distinguished career in finance, beginning with IBM, where he established a career foundation that expanded in later years to include leadership positions within Europe, Latin America, and China. He retired from Xerox as Director of Latin America, having developed a deep respect and affection for the people and culture of the Latin American community.

In retirement, John and Ann split their time between Darien, Connecticut, and Vero Beach, Florida. An avid golfer, John enjoyed his memberships at Darien Country Club and Grand Harbor Golf and Beach Club in Vero. He embraced the constant challenge of the game and celebrated many tournament victories alongside his local teammates. He, Ann and family took numerous trips to Ireland to visit family and sneak in a few rounds of golf, most especially at the Killarney Golf & Fishing Club, where a caddy remains today proudly wearing John's Giant's cap that was awarded as a gift.

John often said he wanted to live to be 90 years old—a milestone he reached on December 27, 2025. He was a loving father and grandfather who found immense joy in watching his children and grandchildren pursue their interests and athletic endeavors. He cherished conversations about their lives and stood ready as their steadfast supporter and safety net. A man of focus and achievement, he instilled in his family not only a drive to succeed, but also a deep appreciation for philanthropy and service to the community.

John will be remembered for his loyalty, intellect, generosity, and enduring love for his family. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in New Canaan, Connecticut, on Monday, March 16, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to La Salle Academy.