Dr. Charles E. Riordan

Charlie grew up in Riverdale, NY and graduated from Regis High School in 1955, the College of the Holy Cross in 1959 and is a 1963 graduate of Harvard Medical School. He was trained as a psychiatrist at St. Vincent’s in New York City and pioneered methadone maintenance as a treatment for opiate addiction. He was married in 1963 to the former Pat Reardon and in 1970 came to New Haven to work as a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Yale Medical School. Charlie moved the family to Madison, a town where he vacationed as a child. In 1987, he became Chairman of Psychiatry at the Hospital of St. Raphael and in 1988 was named Chief Medical Officer. Over the next decade he chaired “Fighting Back” a Robert Wood Johnson initiative to develop a strategy for substance abuse prevention and treatment in the New Haven community. He chaired the Council of Addiction Psychiatry and the Committee on Standards for the American Psychiatric Association. He was very active with the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) as a member of JCAHO’s Professional and Technical Advisory Committee. He was also a member of the Executive Committee of the Connecticut State Mental Health Board. He served on the Board of Trustees for the Connecticut Hospital Association for a decade and culminated in his service as Chairman. He retired from St. Raphael’s in 2007 but continued to work in private practice and for Connecticut Hospice. His long and distinguished record of service to Connecticut’s healthcare community spanned 50 years. He was the author of dozens of published clinical research papers, recognized as a national expert on addiction psychiatry, testified before Congress and consulted for Major League Baseball.

All his professional successes were secondary to his family of which he invested so much. He raised 4 children with Pat in Madison where they resided for over 50 years. He was cherished by his 11 grandchildren and never missed an opportunity to spend time with them. He attended every function he could – basketball, lacrosse, soccer games, swim meets, and any school activities. Charlie loved holidays because it was an opportunity to bring everyone together. Christmas celebrations were epic but the highlight of each year was the summer vacation where the entire family would gather, usually on a beach, to spend time together. The favorite tradition during those vacations was Charlie waking up early each morning to grab a large box of donuts so when the children would wake up, they could sit at the table, eat some chocolate and talk to their PopPop. The greatest lesson he taught his family was the value of spending time together.

He loved living by the water, enjoyed playing golf at Clinton Country Club and was a member of St. Margaret’s Church. He’d travel back to his beloved New York often to see Broadway plays with Pat and still rooted for the Knicks and Mets. In summers he visited the Berkshires to listen to the Boston Pops and traveled extensively with Pat throughout the world from Australia to Europe and Asia.

Charlie had a lovely smile that accented his piercing blue eyes. He was a wonderful storyteller in the Irish tradition and had a tremendous sense of humor. He knew the value of a strong family bond and so would bring extended family together for large gatherings at Clinton Country Club. At the end he’d have a huge smile on his face and say to everyone “Thanks for coming!” He was the “go-to” medical guy for family members and friends alike. He never missed a chance to provide guidance or support to someone who asked. No one valued education more than Charlie and his efforts to tutor his kids and grandkids is legendary.

Charlie had tremendous insight into the human condition. Educated in the Jesuit tradition, he was always a man for others. His unique gifts were his ability to connect with people and his capacity to offer compassion and empathy especially to those who needed it most. He had an understated grace to his demeanor and an enthusiasm that endeared him to people. When you spoke to Charlie you always had his full attention and he made it clear you were important, and you mattered to him.

Charlie is survived by his wife of 59 years Pat (Reardon) and their four children; Charlie and wife, Karen, of Newark, DE and their children Charles and Kimberly, James and his wife, Lynda, of Irvine, CA and their children Nikk, Rhys, Kate and Chance; Tracey (Riordan) Jacobson and her husband, Eric, of Branford, CT and their children Tucker and Rory; and John and his wife, Lisa, of Simsbury, CT and their children Aidan, Maeve and Brenna. Charlie was predeceased by a daughter Julie. He is also survived by his brother Bob (Joani) of Pleasantville, NY, as well as Charlie and Pat’s five nieces and nephews.

The family would like to extend their sincere appreciation to Dr. Peter Herbert for his 30-year friendship with Charlie and the extraordinary care he provided throughout Charlie’s illness. The family is also grateful for the care, compassion and kindness shown by Sthembile Patience N. Mthembu, Charlie’s live-in caretaker.

Charlie's family will receive family and friends during a visitation at Swan Funeral Home, 825 Boston Post Road Madison, CT on Wednesday, July 21st from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 AM on Thursday, July 22nd at St. Margaret’s Church, 24 Academy Street in Madison. Burial will follow in West Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Charlie’s name to the APT Foundation for drug treatment, research and recovery at 1 Long Wharf Drive, New Haven, CT 06511.