James R. Reilly

Veronica I am so sorry to hear about James passing. I don't think we ever met. I am James's cousin Tami. James was my grandfather(John Raymond Hensel) nephew. His mom Alta was my grandfather sister. I remember a lot of great memories when I was a child when James was with Governor James Thompson. He was a great guy. So sorry for your lost.

Fondly remembering Jim from Jacksonville days! I arrived at Illinois College the year he graduated but got to know him in the years that followed particularly through summer theater productions! With sincerest thanks for all he did for Illinois and especially the Chicago area, a part of the country that I still miss out. Condolences to his family. Hans Gallas, San Francisco

I was blessed to know Jim since 1977. A gentleman, yes. Dedicated to helping people and public service, yes. Loving Veronica beyond anything else, yes. Honorable, yes. Compassionate, yes. This will give you a hint of the respect the Man had in the General Assembly. In 1981, I was part of a group of cartographers drawing up the Legislative map. We drew a Senate District for the Honorable and wonderful Vince DeMuzio. Then later on Leader Mike Madigan and I talked. We decided to offer, with no...

Our sympathies to Veronica and the Lynch and Reilly families on the loss of this great man. I went to school with Richard Lynch, PC, at Boylan Catholic High School and at Southern Illinois University. When I was hired by Gary LaPaille to work in Springfield in 1986, my mentor Zeke Giorgi told me to make sure that I connected with Veronica who was director of the Democratic staff. Jim was renowned in this state and contributed greatly to it. His many accolades are testament to his love of...