Reilly was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1916.[2] He first enrolled in the Jesuit novitiate in 1932, and was formally ordained a Catholic priest within the Society of Jesus in 1945.[2] Reilly received a bachelor's degree in philosophy from the former Woodstock College in Maryland. Additionally, he studied theology at Weston College in Massachusetts before obtaining a doctorate in philosophy from Fordham University.[2]
In 1955, Reilly became a philosophy professor at Canisius College in Buffalo, New York.[2] He also became director of Canisius' evening and summer programs.[2] Reilly remained on faculty at Canisius College until 1964, when he left to become the president of Le Moyne College.[2]
Reilly became president of Le Moyne College in 1964, succeeding Nicholas J. Sullivan. During his 12-year tenure as president, the longest in Le Moyne's history,[1] Reilly oversaw the expansion of Le Moyne's campus to more than 140 acres.[1] Several academic buildings were constructed during this time, including Foery and Harrison halls.[1][2] Harrison Hall was later renamed Reilly Hall in his honor.[3]
Reilly retired as president of Le Moyne College in 1976 and served at a number of other Jesuit institutions.[1] He became the associate vice president for academy at Fordham University in New York City.[1] Between 1991 and 1998,[4] Reilly served as the retreat minister at both the Jesuit Novitiate in Benin City, Nigeria, as well the retreat minister at a Jesuit facility in Cape Coast, Ghana.[1][2] He began serving as retreat minister at the Nigerian novitiate at the age of 75.[4]
Father Reilly permanently moved to the campus of Fordham University in the Bronx in 1999, where he resided for the remainder of his life.[1] Reilly died at the Murray-Weigel Hall Jesuit care facility at Fordham University on December 10, 2009, at the age of 94.[1][3]
Reilly's funeral mass took place at the Fordham University Church.[4] He was buried at the Jesuit Martyrs' Shrine in Auriesville, New York.[4]
