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Robert Estil Riley

1945 - 2025

Robert Estil Riley

1945 - 2025

Obituary

Guest Book

BORN

1945

DIED

2025

Robert Riley Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Aug. 21, 2025.

Robert (Rob) was born 04/06/1945 in Concordia, KS to his loving parents, Robert Riley Sr and Margaret (nee Jones). Raised in Long Grove, IL by an educated and fun family who founded a Montessori school run by 3 generations! He attended Ela Vernon high before graduating from U of Michigan. Cherished brother to Nan Parson (Chris) and Lyn Pearson (Jack); son William Atlas Riley (Clary) two spectacular granddaughters, Bella and Matilda. Rob leaves behind devoted stepchildren Spencer Breen, Riley Breen (Sean) as well as stepgranddaughters, Alyssa and Alannah. He is survived by his adoring nieces: Kim, Meghan, Sara, Mary, Donna, Jess and nephews: John and Mark -not to mention hordes of inlaws, outlaws and wonderful friends! He went to his glory August 8, 2025 with the love of his life, Nonie Newton Riley, by his side.

Rob was handsome, sartorial, and a true wise guy- always finding the fun and funny. A multi-hyphenate: actor, singer, musician, improviser, songwriter, producer. Rob was a much beloved figure on Chicago stages. You might have seen him at the Goodman in Blind Date, Moonlight and Magnolias, The Crowd You're In With; Northlight in Seasons Greetings, The Cripple of Inishmaan; Good For Otto at the The Gift; Steppenwolf in Playboy of the Western World, The Weir; QED in his one man show for Collaboraction; Second City and the Reification Co where he lit up the stage with his improv skills. SNL writer and performer. Hopefully, you caught Wild Men in Chicago or at the Westside Theatre in NYC - co-written, directed and performed by hisself. Athletic, political, deeply kind and forever missed!

The family sends heartfelt thanks to Dr Rafii, Dr Alsayegh and Americare hospice for their remarkable care.

** Please feel free to post a memory or picture- all who loved him are welcome

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Recent Activity

September 3, 2025

Nan Parson posted to the memorial.

August 31, 2025

Seine Watkins posted to the memorial.

August 26, 2025

William Atlas Riley posted to the memorial.

19 Entries

Nan Parson

September 3, 2025

I love this photo of my jokester brother, Rob. He had a stroke, could only speak a few words, had to eat with his left hand, had trouble walking; but he enjoyed the wonderful food that his loving wife, Nonie, fixed for him 3 meals a day, and he LOVED to goof off, no matter what the challenges were.

He was my pal. We had so many adventures. We moved so often that we were the only friends we had. Every Halloween, we'd head out trick or treating, always getting lost in a new neighborhood. In each new place, we joined the local kids in whatever they were doing and then we moved on to the next adventure. We both learned to be observant, which helped me as a social worker and him as an actor.

I recall those days with such affection and can't believe my pal is gone. He got me, and I got him. I miss havng him in this world; but I take courage from that jokester grin. He was a wise guy for as long as he could be--a positive example for us all. I love you, Rob, and will miss you forever. Thank you so much, Nonie, for loving him, too and taking such good care of the darling boy! He was so lucky to have you.

Seine Watkins

August 31, 2025

Warm memories, raising and loving our wonderful son William Atlas Riley in Chicago. Rob was the best father. Condolences to both Will and Nonie.

William Atlas Riley

August 26, 2025

My dad's claim to fame might be as a radio DJ in "Groundhog Day," SNL writer, or Second City veteran, but to me he was more than any one credit. He gave me the best childhood a kid could ask for. My earliest memories are of us taking long walks in the woods behind his parents' house in Long Grove, IL, crossing creeks on fallen trees and, in the winter, sliding along on skis using the old rickety rope tow. He taught me to ski from the time I could walk by putting me between his legs and holding his poles horizontally in front of us for support. I cherished our annual ski trips in Wisconsin and the Rockies, where we played follow-the-leader down the slopes, through trees, and over jumps. One of our favorite runs was aptly named "Radical Rob." On chairlift rides, we played 20 Questions or made up other games to pass the time.

My dad read to me every night, and he brought his flair for the dramatic and comedic into our story time. One of our favorites was the Hardy Boys series, and I will never forget the hilarious voices he gave Frank and Joe´s girlfriends, back when I thought their presence in the story made for detestable "mushy stuff." He made intricate hand-drawn Lego designs for me to build and wrote little notes in my lunchbox to brighten my day at school. He was there for every school performance and presentation, cheering me on. We went on long bike rides through Chicago neighborhoods, shot hoops in the alley behind his house, and played tennis at the local park. He was a natural athlete in many ways.

We took Spanish-by-immersion classes together every summer in Tepoztlán, Mexico. He already spoke good Spanish, and I strived to reach his level so we could be in the same class. Every summer we hiked to the Aztec pyramid in the mountains above town, trying to beat our time from the year before. When they sent Mexican students to Chicago on a cultural exchange trip, he helped organize transportation, activities, and host parents for them. It seemed like everybody in that small town in Mexico knew and loved my dad. He was always looking for ways to lend a helping hand or just share a laugh and brighten their day.

My dad loved the company of friends, and he had many of them. He used to tell me he would be proud of me no matter what I became when I grew up ("You could run off and join the circus," he´d say), as long as I was kind and decent to his friends. He was a natural storyteller, entertainer, and thespian, delighting audiences in complex and variegated roles at all the major theaters in Chicago. I saw firsthand the hard work he put in behind the scenes to research and develop his characters, and I loved helping him learn his lines by reading his cues. I always felt proud when his audiences delivered thunderous applause and well-deserved standing ovations at his curtain calls. He also generously volunteered his time to judge improv teams at the Cornservatory, a storefront theater near his beloved Lincoln Square neighborhood in Chicago, and many a young improviser benefitted from his wit and wisdom.

He was a great dad, a fun guy to be around, and a magnet for attention in the best way. I loved him so much and miss him terribly, but I am so thankful for the memories. His spirit lives on in ways big and small, not least through his two adorable granddaughters, Isabella and Matilda Riley, to whom he is affectionately known as "Dada Bob."

I dare not say rest in peace, because he's not resting. Somewhere out there, he's carving up the slopes of heaven, leading the way for us down here, watching over us, and still being the amazing Dad/Dada Bob that we knew, loved, and cherished during his 80 years on this Earth.

Terry Schaefer

August 23, 2025

Rob was a best friend, a very talented singer and exciting performer in our rock band at U of Michigan named "The Drivin´ Wheels" . A real intelligent and creative tour de force ... We will miss Rob greatly!
Terry Schaefer

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Hjordis Linn-Blanford

August 23, 2025

"Dr I don't feel so hot, tell me what disease I got....Cabin Fever....Cabin Fever!" All I got to say is Google 'Cabin Fever by Rob Riley' & also 'I'm A Snow Plow Baby' ....I just feel lucky to have known Rob, he was my parents' friend and it made me feel like he was an uncle. He showed up for my dad when he was dieing. Not everyone is able to do that. Be funny AND be very real...

Maria Carpenter

August 22, 2025

Sean Stevens

August 22, 2025

The best tour guide Chicago had to offer. The first time I met Rob he drove myself and Riley around Chicago and had a story for every storefront and city block that we passed. It was evident how much he loved the city and how proud he was to be a part of it. A man of true wit, great taste & zeal for his countless hobbies. He took me into his home as a welcomed member of his family in 2018. His love for Turner Classic Movies greatly exceeded any passion that I have yet to witness.

Valborg Fletre Linn

August 22, 2025

Rob was a great friend that Tim & I met through friends in the early 1970´s and hung around at the his thrift shop around the corner from our apartment. We put on crazy shows there, using the merch as our costumes & props and the store as our set. He & other friends wrote the fantastic(al) shows and we either performed, warmed up the audience or participated in some fun manner in each performance. Our daughters, Asia & Hjørdis, grew up thinking this was how adults behaved!
Needless to say we remained friends (and fans) throughout the years from Chicago to NYC.... Reification Company to SNL to Goodman Theater to LA. No matter where we lived, Rob knew he could always ring the doorbell without notice and get a glass of Welch´s grape juice... or wine. We traveled to see each other´s works. Rob came to see us & performed his "Good for Otto" soliloquy for Tim right before he died. Great memories. Great friend. Love to Nonie. Love to all his family & friends. Miss you Rob. Love, Valborg

John Davies

August 22, 2025

Rob Riley, Jim Belushi and John Davies of EGGBOY PRODUCTIONS INC having a high level executive meeting about our media empire.

Vicki Quade

August 22, 2025

So happy to have shared many a laugh with Rob. First time we met, I thought, first, geez, he's so tall and good-looking, no wonder he's an actor. Then I loved his politics, the way he spoke about the creative process, how to nurture good people, how cheap wine is perfectly okay, how to keep going. And I loved how much he loved Nonie and how he wasn't embarrassed to say that. He was a good man. He is already missed.

John Davies

August 21, 2025

Hey Rob, remember SUGAR OR PLAIN, that comedy short about two crazy ice cream vendors you, me and Jim Belushi made that aired on HBO, SHOWTIME and eventually Saturday Night Live? Well, Kim Morgan, a writer who curates Quentin Tarantino's New Beverly Cinema in LA chose it for Quentin's permanent collection at that theater. It often runs before Quentin's favorite feature length films and friends of mine have seen it and say audiences love it so you're still entertaining people Rob! Below I've added a production still from one of our other productions TAB LLOYD: INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER about a sleazy journalist played incomparably by you. I'm proud of our original work, written and produced by us with most of it airing nationally. I learned a ton from you.
John Davies

Jackie VanWagner

August 21, 2025

Always looked forward to your visits to The Smith Center. Your love for each other is an inspiration to all who had the pleasure of your company....I adored you both and prey your heart soon will be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.

Karol Kent

August 21, 2025

Wonderful Rob Riley was also a great, innovative director of shows by Chicago comedy ensemble Friends of the Zoo. The funniest, most fun years of my life spent with Rob & the rest of our insane group - Mark Nutter, Russ Flack, Pete Burns, Jeanette Schwaba, Karol Kent (me), and Paul Raci + Dominic Bucci with Lucia & Puff up in the booth. Zoo Plate Special, Zoo Thousand One, Oh! My Nuts! - Rob guided our writing ("cut it" "throw it out & start again" "save it for the next show") pushed us rehearsing ("do the dance 20 more times" "Pete sings!?" "cut 10 more seconds off that blackout" ) and was our proud mentor at every fabulous opening night. He made us special. Laughed harder & longer with this crazy, rebellious, sophisticated, intellectual man than anyone ever. Love you, dear friend Rob - see you at the next Cabaret Rebob upstairs.

Mark Nutter

August 21, 2025

RIP Rob. The Reification Company. Friends of the Zoo. Wild Men! A lifetime of memories with you.

Sandra Carlson

August 21, 2025

We will miss his smile and friendly hello. Bill and Sandy

Shelly Goldstein

August 21, 2025

Rob was a talented, handsome, brilliant, innovative mensch with a big, big heart. I saw him many times onstage in Chicago -- mostly with the Reification Co. Always so sharp, so funny. Rob made the world better & the party more fun. Condolences and love to Nonie and all who loved him.