Desmond M. Reilly

Desmond M. Reilly was born May 10, 1919, in Poole, Dorset, England, eldest son of Irish parents. He graduated with B.S., M.S. and Ph.D, degrees in Chemistry from University College Cork, the National University of Ireland. Des served in the Irish Army in Ordnance Research and Development from 1942 to 1946. He spent seven years in teaching and chemical research at the University of Notre Dame, Creighton University, Domtar in Canada and the Midwest Research Institute. He was married in 1947 to Patricia Carton, who died in 1965. He married Dorothy Citarella in 1970.
Though trained as a chemist, Des's avocation was as a writer, beginning with high school and college publications. His first newspaper article was published at the age of eleven. In his college days he was a regular freelance contributor to Irish newspapers and magazines and to the Irish radio network. In the United States he was secretary/treasurer of the History Division of the American Chemical Society and published widely on the history of science. He spent 20 years in advertising, technical writing, product publicity and public relations, first with FMC Corporation and later with Olin Corporation in New York and Connecticut. In the 1960s he was a member and eventually President of the Board of Education in South Huntington Schools, Long Island, New York, at the time the fastest growing school district in the United States. For 10 years Des was Professor of Marketing in the Business Schools of Fairfield University, Connecticut, and Western Connecticut State University.
On retirement in 1986, Des and Dot moved to Fearrington Village in Chatham County, North Carolina. Des served on the Board of Directors of Orange-Chatham Comprehensive Health Services, Inc. and on the Board of Directors of Countryhouse Service Group Five in Fearrington Village. He edited the residents' community newsletter for three years followed by four years as contributing editor to the Fearrington promotional newsletter, "A Village View". Des and Dot moved to Carolina Meadows retirement community in Chapel Hill in 1994. Des was editor of the Carolina Meadows resident newsletter, "The Meadowlark", for six years. He has been editor of The Hotline, quarterly publication of the Continuing Care Community Residents of North Carolina (CCCR of NC). Up to the time of his death, he enjoyed reporting on residents and their activities as a Meadowlark columnist and in the local press.
Des is predeceased by his only child Conor D. Reilly, but is survived by his wife, Dot; stepchildren, Richard and Donald Citarella and Carol Hebert; grandchildren, Kate and Michael Reilly, Todd and Goeffrey Whalley, Megan Stewart, Stephen, Christopher and Tiffany Citarella; great-granddaughters, Caroline and Eleanore Whalley and Devon Stewart.
A memorial service will be held at a future date.
In memoriam contributions may be made to: The Carolina Meadows Remembrance and Gift Fund, 100 Carolina Meadows, Chapel Hill, NC 27517.
Arrangements are entrusted to Cremation Society of the Carolinas.