Richard Patrick O'Reilly

Richard Patrick O'REILLY, age 85, of Encinitas, California passed away on April 27, 2022. He was born under a shamrock on St. Patrick’s Day 1937, in Dayton, Ohio as the second of four sons to the late Michael and Viola (Requarth) O’Reilly. He is preceded in death by infant brother Charles and sister-in-law Darlene O’Reilly.

Richard (Dick) is survived by his loving wife of 58 years Judith (Judy) Ann Patricia Noonan O’Reilly, their son Sean O’Reilly of Encinitas, daughter Katy O’Reilly of San Diego, and daughter-in-law Lisa Garrison O’Reilly along with four grandchildren Steven (wife Sheila) Garrison, Kevin O’Reilly, Rachel O’Reilly, and Kyle O’Reilly of Encinitas.

He is survived by his older brother Jim O’Reilly (wife Molly) of Rochester, New York, his younger brother Louis (Duke) O’Reilly of Dayton, along with his four sisters-in-law by marriage to Judy and their husbands, Jayne (Robert) Abernathy, Patty (Jim) Roemer, Connie (Brian) Hood, and Sharon (Michael) Kramer.

Dick had a rich full life filled with success, adventure, and many friends all over the world. He was an avid reader, skilled golfer, and devout Catholic. He grew up on Jones Street in Dayton and worked as a caddy at the Dayton Country Club as a kid. He was a graduate of Chaminade High School and Wright State University. He served as a United States Army intelligence decoder in Germany during the Korean War. He was a debonair Xerox salesman when the Xerox copier was a technology break-through invention.

Dick and Judy launched a Xerox subsidiary in Europe in the 1990s. They mentored many successful careers. They lived on the French Riviera and in Paris for several years while also retaining homes in San Diego and Cabo. They traveled the world together enjoying museums, fine dining, and jazz with family and friends.

In his forty-ninth year, Dick became a good Friend of Bill W. He volunteered with the San Diego Prison Ministry for years and grew to be affectionally known as the “Old Man” who helped to turn several troubled lives around.

Born with the gift of eloquent Irish gab, he was a great storyteller and most of the tales of his life’s adventures were true. He always had a twinkle is his bright blue eyes and he passed peacefully in his sleep at the home of his son. He was a gracious, kind, funny, smart, interesting, generous, and handsome man who loved with all his heart, and whose presence on this earth will be missed by many.

A celebration of his life is being held on May 20th at 1pm at Dan Diego’s Euro Café in San Diego. A High Mass funeral service will be held in the fall at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Dayton, the parish church of his childhood. He will be buried in the family plot at Dayton Memorial Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you raise your glass to Richard Patrick O’Reilly. And if you see someone who looks down on their luck, give them $5 as Dick often did.