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Farley-Sullivan Funeral Home - Wethersfield

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Wethersfield, Connecticut

Eugene Reilly Obituary

Eugene M. Reilly, 70, husband of Mary (Bourke) Reilly, of Charlestown R.I., passed away on April 13, 2014, at RI Hospital. He was born in Hartford, son of the late Joseph and Lavina (Gaudet) Reilly.
Eugene graduated from Bulkeley High School and Central Connecticut State College. Gene played basketball and baseball for CCSC and in 1966 led the nation in foul shooting and was an All-American for the nationally ranked Blue Devils. He was also an All-American in baseball and signed with the San Francisco Giants as a pitcher. After two years in the Giants organization, Gene was drafted into the US Army where he spent a tour of duty in Vietnam. Upon returning, he taught and coached basketball and baseball for 2 years at South Catholic High School and 35 years at Portland High School. His teams won state championships in both basketball in 1982 and baseball in 1988. He was selected Coach of the Year in Middlesex County (1976 and 1995) and Connecticut High School Coaches Association Basketball Coach of the Year in 1998. He is a charter member of the Central Connecticut Hall of Fame and a member of the Twilight League Hall of Fame. Gene has received numerous awards including being selected to the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame, a Gold Key from the Connecticut Sportswriters Association and induction into the New England Hall of Fame.
Gene was also a member of the BPOE Lodge # 771, Middletown, CT.
Besides his wife, he is survived by his brothers Robert (Jane) Reilly and Donald Reilly; his sisters Beverly Strout, Joan (Lewis) Compson, and Mary Ellen (Roger) Fortier; his sisters-in- law Teresa (Joseph) Reilly, and Eleanor (Richard) Reilly. He was predeceased by his brothers John Reilly, Richard Reilly, and Joseph Reilly; sisters Elizabeth and her husband Russell Stocinis and Margaret Reilly; brother-in-law Clayton (Beverly) Strout. Friends may call today, April 15, 2014, from 4 to 7 p.m., at the Farley-Sullivan Funeral Home, 34 Beaver Rd., Wethersfield, CT 06109. A Mass of Christian Burial celebrating Gene's life will be held April 16, 2014, at 10 a.m., in Corpus Christi Church, 601 Silas Deane Hwy, Wethersfield, CT 06109. All are asked to go directly to church. Burial will follow in Mount St. Benedict Cemetery, 1 Cottage Grove Rd., Bloomfield, CT 06002. There will also be a Mass for Gene in St. James Church, Charlestown R.I., at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to CCSU Athletics c/o Coach Bill Detrick, 1615 Stanley St., New Britain, CT 06050. To extend online condolences, share a memory or to light a candle, please visit Farleysullivan.com

Published by The Westerly Sun from Apr. 15 to Apr. 30, 2014.
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Memories and Condolences
for Eugene Reilly

Not sure what to say?





I can't believe it has been 5 years already. We really miss you at our golf meetings.

Friend

April 15, 2019

I am a 1961 graduate of BHS and always wondered what happened to Gene and Joe. I was always in awe of watching the two on the basketball court. As it happens one of Lou Bazzano's relatives is an usher with me at a church here in FL and told me of their passing. It sounds like Gene turned into an outstanding individual. Please accept my sincere sympathy.

Mike Repoli

September 29, 2014

Mary Reilly & Family,
Our family was sad to hear of Gene's passing. Our son Shaun was very lucky to have Gene as his coach. He just thought the world of his friend & coach. Gene had a special ball that no one else on the 1988 team could use. It was just Murph's ball. On that team no one was a stand out. All the players played as a team.They were wonderful to watch. Thank you Gene Reilly for making Shaun the kind of player he was. Those games against Cromwell were great. God always blesses those who play an important part in children's lives as Gene Reilly did for all those years.
Shaun is living in Va. He will be very sad to hear about his COACH & FRIEND.
Love & prayers
Pat & Pinky Murphy

Pat Murphy

April 19, 2014

Mary, so sorry to hear about Gene, my thoughts are with you.

Paul Zajac

April 19, 2014

To the Reilly Family:
Gene truly was the indispensable man. I played basketball against him in high school. He was a tenacious player and leader on the court and a gentleman off.He will be missed. As a fellow Elk I will remember him at the 11th hour. He will be missed.
Michael Makarewicz EHHS '62, CCSC '66

Michael Makarewicz

April 17, 2014

Hi Mary, I'm so sorry to hear that Gene passed away. My thoughts and prayers are with you and the family. It has been 42 yrs since I graduated Naylor School. Wow time flys by. Take care of yourself.

Joanne Cortesa

April 16, 2014

Dear Mrs. Reilly and family,

Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.

My best always,
Jack Sterry, Jr. PHS "76"

April 16, 2014

Many great memories of time spent with Gene. He was a person who truly contributed to society and gave back all he could. Quality person from a great family.

Salafia Family

April 16, 2014

Poppy and family, Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Steve and Rhonda

April 16, 2014

Gene was truly one of the best individuals to influence the lives of young people in a positive way. He will truly be missed.

Mike Pitruzzello

April 15, 2014

The Indispensable Man

The world has lost a great Coach, teacher and friend. My high school teacher, basketball and baseball coach, Gene Reilly. He was an inspiration to me growing up and a huge influence in my life. I would have run through a wall for Coach. I will miss him dearly, especially at our Elks Golf Committee meetings. He had a huge influence in my life and I felt privileged to be friends with him after I became an adult.

Among his many distinctions are his military service in Vietnam and his athletic prowess in both basketball and baseball. He was known for his streaks of made free throws. It seemed like he never missed. Even when he let us distract him by yelling, waving, jumping or doing anything we could think of, except no touching, definitely no touching. We all dreaded the words, "Practice is over when i miss." He could regularly make. 60, 70, 80 or more before missing. He was a great athlete, no doubt. I have a million stories about him and would love to tell them all, or better yet listen to him tell them while sharing a cocktail at the Elks. Above all, though, his greatest legacy was the impact he had on the students of Portland High School as a teacher and coach. You might remember some of your teachers, but EVERYONE remembers Coach. The world needs more great men like Gene Reilly.

Before tryouts every year Coach would read us the poem, "The Indispensable Man". It is a lesson about the value of team over the individual, and that no man is greater than the team. In the poem the author challenges the prideful man to agitate a bucket of water as much as he can and when he stops, the water settles and is largely unaffected. The team will persevere. Thus, no man is "Indispensable". I believed that for 30 years. Now i realize that poem was not 100% true. For the hundreds of young men who played for Coach, he was The Indispensable Man. The waves that his hand created in that bucket of water spread to the hearts and minds of young men and helped shape who they would become.

Good bye Coach. I'm thankful for the time I got to spend with you as a student, player and friend. I only wish I could have told you how much you meant to me.

- John Dickson, PHS Captain '87

John Dickson

April 15, 2014

To Mary Margaret and all Gene's loved ones,
Gene Reilly was a unique All-Star's All-Star on and off the basketball court and baseball field. His smile and wry sense of humor and humility were contagious - you would always feel happy when you were with Gene. The Leghorn family was fortunate enough to compete with, and usually get whupped by, Gene on several indoor and outdoor courts in the South End and at Bulkeley High School: He would even school us in one-on-one games on our Brown St backyard basketball court, even though we had the court spotted - you just couldn't get a clean shot off with Gene guarding you!
Gene was the most complete BHS Bulldog basketball player ever to play for Coach Lou Bazzano. As a player, he was unstoppable on offense and impossible to score against on defense. He was dazzling to watch on all ends of the court. He was also unstoppable off the court - his successes as a family man, Coach, mentor and friend to all are beyond measure. The memory of Gene will live forever in the hearts and minds of all who knew him or saw him in action always using his God-given skills to the utmost.
Wayne Leghorn BHS '66

Wayne Leghorn

April 15, 2014

Celebrating a life well lived. We will cherish the memories forever.

Jon Bayer

April 15, 2014

Bob and I will miss the sound of Gene chipping golf balls in his yard...we felt he was in his special place when he would do that...rest in peace....

Judy and Bob Siedzik

April 15, 2014

Condolences to Gene's family and friends. I knew him as the competition with HPHS where we managed to have some success on the court but not so much on the diamond. Gene showed a lot of class even then as a teenager. No doubt he will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Bill Albrecht (HPHS '62)

Bill Albrecht

April 15, 2014

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Memorial Events
for Eugene Reilly

Apr

15

Calling hours

4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Farley-Sullivan Funeral Home - Wethersfield

34 Beaver Road, Wethersfield, CT 06109-2201

Apr

16

Mass of Christian Burial

10:00 a.m.

Corpus Christi Church

601 Silas Deane Hwy, Wethersfield, CT

Apr

16

Burial

Mount St. Benedict Cemetery

1 Cottage Grove Rd., Bloomfield, CT

Funeral services provided by:

Farley-Sullivan Funeral Home - Wethersfield

34 Beaver Road, Wethersfield, CT 06109-2201

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