Patrick G. Riley

1946 - 2018

Patrick G. Riley

September 23, 1946 - January 3, 2018

Patrick G. Riley, a San Francisco native, author, international entrepreneur and devoted wildlife conservationist, died peacefully at his home Jan. 3, 2018 following a brief struggle with cancer.



The fifth of seven children, Pat was born Sept. 23, 1946 to Frances and William Riley and raised in Atherton. Driven by an unquenchable curiosity, Patrick Riley was a life-long individualist imbued with entrepreneurial instincts and vision that gave rise to the numerous business ventures he founded.

Pat drew inspiration and a can-do spirit from both sides of his family: His maternal grandfather, Miles O'Brien, founded South Bend Lathe Works; his paternal grandfather, George Arthur Riley, founded Rieth-Riley Construction.



Pat graduated high school from Culver Military Academy and received his BA in 1968 from University of California at Santa Cruz.



After college at the age of 23, Pat convinced the late conservationist Don Hunt and actor William Holden to hire him as Operations Manager for their International Animal Exchange Co. based in Somalia, East Africa. For two years, Pat led safaris in remote regions of Somalia and Ethiopia capturing endangered cheetahs and other wildlife to relocate the animals to safe locations in Africa and Europe.



One of Pat's greatest joys was singlehandedly saving the Somali Wild Ass species from extinction by capturing five of the few remaining animals to be bred abroad. Today while still "critically endangered" there are close to 700 in the world and 200 in captivity.

His wildlife experience led him to Oxford University where, in 1977, Pat obtained a Master's Degree in Zoology. Upon his return to the United States, Pat served as Director of Marketing to URS Corp., a multinational civil engineering firm. In 1980, Pat returned to his beloved Africa when he and his younger brother, Tom Riley, formed General Resources Corporation, an international equipment dealership.

Pat was also a sought-after strategic services advisor to such Tokyo-based firms as Nippon Television Network, Bandai Entertainment and Fuji Photo Film Co. Ltd.



In 2002, Harper Collins published Pat's, "The One-Page Proposal," a concise guide on streamlining business proposals that was widely translated throughout Asia. Building off the book's success, Pat founded the One-Page Company with his daughter, Joanna Riley. Their start-up developed into a publicly traded company on the Australian Stock Exchange.



Pat led an incredibly full life and was generous with his time, giving back whenever and wherever he could. From 1990-2012, he served as a Trustee to UC Santa Cruz. He also served as a Trustee on the Development Trust at Oriel College, Oxford University and was a named a Fellow to the London Zoological Society. He was an international board member to WildAid, an organization devoted to ending the trade of illegal wildlife. Pat was also an active, enthusiastic member of the Bohemian Club.



Pat is preceded in death by his parents and sister, Ranny Riley.



He is survived by his wife, Maria Palmer; his children, Joanna Riley and Maximilian Riley; his step-children, John and Felicia Palmer; his brothers, Miles, Bill, Tom and Jim Riley and sister Anne Riley.



Known for his generosity of spirit, resonant laugh, joy of life, mischievous sense of humor and his incredible love for family, our beloved Patrick will be sorely missed.



A private reception celebrating the life of Patrick George Riley will be held at a future date. Donations in his memory may be made to WildAid (www.wildaid.org).