Edward C. Reilly

Edward C. Reilly, 88 of West Chester, PA passed away Sunday February 14, 2021 at his home in West Chester. 

He was the husband of Dolores S. Reilly (Santiso). Born November 27, 1932 in West Chester, PA he was the son of the late Colonel Joseph Reilly and the late Anna Spor Reilly.

Edward graduated from St. Agnes High School in 1950 and after serving in the army from 1954-57 he earned a degree in education from West Chester State Teachers College and a masters degree from Cheyney University. Edward was employed by and devoted to the Avon Grove School District for 27 years.

Edward enjoyed many years as his students' most favorite teacher of social studies and geography. He loved teaching his students about the many important and obscure countries of Africa, including DiJibouti. He also loved starring in the annual performance of The Nutcracker at West Chester University.

A walk through downtown West Chester with Edward Reilly was a lesson in history as he shared his childhood memories and little known real estate legacy in each and very block. He is one of the towns last historians who remembers the days of Woolworths and Turks Head drug stores where "tabs" were held for the oldest families in town. He was known to his students, friends and family as kind, fair, and an advocate of equal rights.

Edward Reilly was also one of the founding members of the Southern Chester County Swim League. He always fondly recalled forming the league as he sat in a local bar with other "swim  dads" organizing a league that is still a West Chester staple in summer aquatics today. He worked as a "stroke and turn" judge throughout his volunteer career with the SCCSL and managed Wedgwood Swim Club for over 20 years. He adored managing the swim club where he was instrumental in adding a new regulation sized pool along with new swimming lesson programs, after school programs and his much loved "100 Lap Club".

He is survived by his wife, Dolores (Santiso) Reilly as well as his sister and brother- in- law: Nancy and Louis Bachofer, his 2 daughters: Ellen (Jeffrey Brown) and Megan (Patrick Quinlan), a son Patrick (Paula Holzman), and four grandchildren: Ryan Brown. Jordan Brown, Olivia Brown and Reilly Josephine Quinlan, and many devoted nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his brother Robert and his sisters Agnes Rump and Eileen Stecyk. 

Services and Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Agnes Day Room, 233 W. Gay St. West Chester, PA 19380

Arrangements by DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home of West Chester, PA 610.696.1181 www.DellaFH.com