Timothy "Tim" Sean Reily

Some people decide to live life with a band playing, others do not. Timothy Sean Reily (“Tim”), always had a band playing and, sadly, on Monday, August 5, 2024, the music stopped for Tim, but heaven got a lot louder.

Tim died peacefully at his home in New Orleans with hands laid upon him by his three daughters, Kathryn Reily Roubion, Kelly Reily Grace and Karen Kristie Reily Yancey amongst other close family and friends.

Tim kicked off life together with his twin brother, Jonathan, when he was born on April 10, 1949 in New Orleans, to James Weaks Reily and Lelia Manning Reily. Tim brought his athletic talent and sense of humor to Metairie Park Country Day School where he studied until the Christmas of his 6th grade year when he moved to Greenville, South Carolina. In Tim’s high school years, he and close friends named themselves “The Crew.” The Crew never missed a party, loved to eat oysters, drink Dixie Beer, and appreciate the most beautiful and interesting females in New Orleans.

Although Tim never returned to school in New Orleans, during Christmas and summer vacations, his passion for all things New Orleans stayed strong. Some of his New Orleans favorites include: New Orleans Saints, ham and cheese or debris poboys from Mother’s Restaurant, green tomatoes and grilled oysters from Uglesichs, raw oysters at the bar at Manales, Hurricanes from Pat O’Brien’s and Tim greatest passion among all New Orleans Mardi Gras. All of these passions brought him back to the City to live.

Tim graduated from Virginia Episcopal School in Lynchburg, Virginia. After graduation Tim was encouraged to study at a university in the East, but he was determined to return to a university in the South. Consequently, Tim, together with his twin brother Johnny, enrolled at the University of Mississippi. After spending four years at boarding schools Tim was looking forward to having fun at Ole Miss. But, after just hours at Ole Miss, Tim and Johnny discovered that the areas around Oxford were “dry” counties, a term he never heard in New Orleans. Because road trips to Memphis were necessary to buy beer, the twins packed up, departed Oxford after 24 hours and landed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in time to enroll at LSU. Tim joined and was a member of the Delta Kappy Epsilon (DKE) fraternity at LSU. Tim had as much fun as he could have his first year at LSU and the DKE fraternity that he and the Dean of Students decided he needed some time off from college to rethink his future.

Although Tim never returned to school at LSU, he frequently travelled to Baton Rouge to quench his thirst for the LSU Tigers football team. LSU football games ignited a hot passion in Tim and year in and year out his passion for the Tigers remained an almost addictive vice.

Where do you go if you are a teen and no longer a student at LSU? For Tim, the answer was easy. You follow your passion. He returned to New Orleans to obtain a job without a college degree. Finding a job can be difficult but, as luck was always following Tim he obtained a job as a route truck salesman for Coca Cola. His father noticed the success Tim had at Coke and offered him a warehouse man job at Reily Electrical. In this back-breaking, heat-stroke type of job, Tim working in the un-airconditioned third floor warehouse learned in detail the products and inventory sold by Reily. He was a quick learner and his Dad shifted him to an outside salesman job.

Tim eventually rose to be President of Reily and from that position until Tim sold Reily Electric. Under Tim’s leadership success was not measured only by dollars and cents but also by the local and regional recognition it gained. Because of his passion for Reily Electric among other things he implemented Six Sigma, joined YPO, and was elected Entrepreneur of the Year. He also chaired numerous industry organizations and made notable contributions to charities across the city.

Tim’s passion for Mardi Gras spilled over to the Rex Parade where he was the designer and builder for over ten years. During those years, Rex earned the most outstanding daytime parade for the Gambit. His passion for the School of Design is also shown by his financial and man power contributions plus lots of personal time. In addition to Rex he was a member of numerous Carnival organizations and men’s clubs.

After retirement at 50 years old, Tim next turned to his greatest passion and joy, his children whom he had with his late former wife Karen Baltar Reily. After James Weaks Reily, II was born three daughters were born in succession – Kathryn Lee Reily, married to Dennis Roubion Jr.; Kelly Baltar Reily married to Robert Grace; and Karen Kristie Reily married to Hunter Yancey V.

At least one of these couples travelled with Tim wherever he went, doted upon him as daughters often do with their dads and gave Tim the love and affection to assure he enjoyed life to the fullest until his death. One of Tim’s favorite hobbies was to travel and see the world. He loved the outdoors.

With his daughters visiting him daily and answering his every need Tim did not think life could get much better. But Tim’s life got better, much better. Eight funny, kind and adorable grandchildren were born. Twin boys, Dennis Holden Roubion, Reily James Roubion, and a girl Cecilia Lee Roubion, children of Katy and Dennis Roubion, were the first-born grandchildren who Tim doted on. Then Kelly and Robert produced twin boys, Robert Weaks Grace, Waylon Downman Grace and a girl Sawyer Manning Grace. To make Tim even happier Kristie and Hunter produced Richard Hunter Yancey and Lucille Reily Yancey.

In addition to his daughters, Tim is survived by his older brother, Patrick Reily, and a younger half-brother, Stephen Reily, with many other close step-siblings. Another brother, Michael Reily, an All-American football player at Williams College predeceased him as did Tim’s first-born child James Weaks Reily II.

Throughout Tim’s life he was a popular man, known to many as “Loud.” He was funny, enjoyed the company of people. He was generous, thoughtful and caring and much much more. So, the short hand expression for Tim which friends find appropriate, although perhaps underwhelming, is one that reflects Tim’s humility as well as all other adjectives appropriate for him. “WHAT A GUY”!

The family would like to give a special thanks to Dr. Philip Denoux and his wonderful staff who took such great care of Tim for many years.

Friends and family are invited to join us Monday, August 12th at Trinity Episcopal Church. Visitation at 11:30am and service at 1pm. To follow a celebration of life will be held at the Audubon Tea Room.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Louisiana SPCA, 1700 Mardi Gras Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70114, www.louisianaspca.org.

To view and sign the online guest book, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com