John Reilly Jr.

John (Jack) Reilly, Jr.
September 26, 1932 - November 8, 2009
LOWELL John F. "Jack" Reilly, Jr., a life long resident of Lowell passed away on Sunday November 8th. He is survived by his wife and high school sweetheart, Elaine Ganem. They were happily married for fifty-four years.
He is also survived by four children, Patricia Daniel and her husband William of Los Alamitos CA, Kathryn Bolduc and her husband Donald of Falmouth ME, Michael S. Reilly and his wife Lorraine of Andover MA and John C. Reilly and his wife Maria of Andover MA. In addition, they were the parents of the late Susan Szum (John) of Walpole MA and the late Mary Jo Quinlan (Peter) of Andover MA.
A graduate of Lowell High School where he was a member of the undefeated 1948 and 1949 football teams that were invited to the Memorial Bowl in Jackson MI in 1948 and the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville FL in 1949. He received a B.A. in Economics from Dartmouth College in 1954 where he also played football.
From October 1954 to September 1956 he served in the U.S. Army, stationed in Puerto Rico.
Reilly joined Fred C. Church Inc. as a salesman in October of 1956. He became President and CEO in 1980 and continued until 2007 when he reduced his role to Chairman. Under his leadership, Fred C. Church grew to become one of largest privately owed insurance agencies in New England.
A Director and Vice-Chairman of Merrimack Valley AAA, former Director of Colonial Gas Co, Lowell, MA as well as Massachusetts Electric Co. Westboro MA. He also served as Director and Executive Committee member of Family Bank, Haverhill MA and Trustee and member of the Board of Investment at Central Savings Bank, Lowell MA.
He served as Secretary and Director of the Lowell Revitalization Corp; Co-Founder and Director of The Friends of Lowell High School, Chairman of St. John's Hospital (Saints Medical Center) Lowell, MA, President of the Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Lowell Memorial Auditorium, Director Lowell Boys Club and Director of Greater Lowell United Fund.
An avid golfer, Reilly was an Executive Committee member of the Massachusetts Golf Association, a Director of Vesper Country Club, where he was club champion in 1963. He also held membership at Cummaquid Golf Club in Yarmouth Port, MA and The Kittanset Club in Marion MA.
Among the honors he received were the Boys Club of America Bronze Keystone Award; the Demoulas Philanthropy Award and the Elkin and Donna McCallum Red Cross Humanitarian Award.
Mr. Reilly leaves nineteen grandchildren Laura, JD and Caroline Szum of Walpole MA, Kristen Kelley, Sarah Daniel and Christopher Daniel of Las Alamitos CA, Benjamin, Kathryn and Jacqueline Bolduc of Falmouth ME, Mathew, Jennifer and Michael Quinlan of Andover MA, Molly, Michael and Emma Reilly of Andover MA, and Jack, Danny, Patrick and Grace Reilly of Andover MA.
Survivors also include his three brothers, Dr. Philip S. Reilly and his wife Joan of Osterville MA, Thomas J. Reilly and his wife Norberta of Wayland MA, David A. Reilly and his wife Janet of Peterborough NH and a half sister, Carol McGrath of Chelmsford MA.
REILLY Family and friends may call on Thursday, November 12, 2009 from 4:-00 8:00 P.M. at the Cataudella Funeral Home, 126 Pleasant Valley Street, Methuen, MA 01844. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Friday, November 13, 2009 at 11:00 at the Immaculate Conception Church in Lowell MA. Burial will follow at the St. Mary's Cemetery in Tewksbury, MA. The family requests that guest attending the Funeral Mass on Friday to please go directly to the church. Donations may be made in his memory to the Immaculate Conception Church, 3 Fayette St. Lowell, MA 01852 or the Saints Medical Center, 1230 Bridge St. Lowell, MA. 01850. For directions and condolences please visit our website and online guestbook at www.cataudellafh.com