John E. Reilly

Colonel John E. Reilly, USAFR (ret) passed away peacefully in his home in Punta Gorda on Saturday. He was 44 days short of his 76th birthday. Born in Elizabeth, New Jersey in August 1942, he attended Jefferson High School in Elizabeth and later graduated from St Michael's College in Winooski Park, Vermont in 1964 as the Cadet Wing Colonel and Distinguished Military Graduate, bound for USAF Pilot Training. Immediately following his graduation, John married his hometown sweetheart (from the "good side of town" - one street over) Mary Ann, his wife of 54 years.

Col Reilly completed pilot training and was assigned to fly the Boeing B-52D Stratofortress "BUFF" and was deployed nearly continuously throughout 1967-1969, flying the famed ARC LIGHT strikes during Operation ROLLING THUNDER out of Guam and Thailand, including multiple raids over North Vietnam for which he was awarded multiple Air Medals and the Distinguished Flying Cross as the youngest Aircraft Commander in Strategic Air Command.

In 1969, Colonel Reilly transitioned to a civilian pilot career with Trans World Airlines (TWA) and joined the Air Force Reserves at McGuire AFB, NJ where he flew the C-141 Starlifter as he progressed through the TWA inventory including the 727, DC-9, the just barely sub-sonic L-1011 (his favorite) and ultimately retiring as a Captain on the B-767. During his time with TWA, and later American Airlines, John also served as the 335th Military Airlift Squadron Commander, AF Reserve Advisor to the Commander of SAC, and attended the prestigious National War College in Washington, DC.

Following his military (retired 1994) and airline career (retired 2002), John continued to serve the aviation industry as an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector in New York until his final retirement in 2011.

John and Mary Ann re-located to Punta Gorda in 2011, where they re-united with old military and airline connections, and also made many new friends in the local community. Col Reilly always enjoyed running his yacht; taking his family fishing, crabbing, or on sunset cruises in the bay. He was also an avid multidisciplinary reader who enjoyed discussions of science, history, politics, and investing.

Col Reilly is survived by his wife Mary Ann, their son Col (Dr) Kevin Reilly, USA, his wife Ann Marie, grandchildren Kevin Jr., Mary Kirsten, and Jonathon; his daughter Karen Munter, her husband Col (ret) (Dr.) Fletch Munter, grandchildren Lauren, Dennis, Katherine, and Bridget; and his son Lt Col Michael Reilly USAF, his wife Jennifer, and grandson Brendan. He is also survived by his brother Christopher, his wife Jill, and many in-laws, cousins, nieces, nephews, and close family friends too numerous to count.

The primary funeral services will occur in New Jersey.

Local visitation and services will be held on Thursday, July 19, 2018 from 6:00 P.M. until service time at 7:00 P.M. at Kays -Ponger & Uselton Funeral Home 635 East Marion Avenue; followed by a hosted celebration of life at the Celtic Ray immediately following the services.

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5690 at 23204 Freedom Ave. Punta Gorda, FL 33980 or St. Jude Children's Research at PO Box-1000 Dep 142 Memphis Tennessee 38101-9908.

Please visit the online tribute for John E. Reilly at www.kays-ponger.com to sign the guest book and offer condolences to the family.