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Joseph R. Riley
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Riley, Joseph R. TROY Joseph R. Riley of 5th Ave., Troy, passed into eternal life on Friday, August 24, 2007. Born and educated in Troy, he was the son of the late Robert R. Riley Sr. and Philomena (Bendetti) Riley. Joseph was retired from the N.Y.S. Assembly, where he was the head stenographer, with 31 years of loyal service. He also served as a Clifton Park Democratic Supervisor from 1989 to 1991. He was the second and last Democrat to hold the town supervisor's position in Clifton Park history. He was also very active in the Troy's Boy's and Girl's Club and served on their board of directors for many years. Joseph was very passionate about serving his community, and did so well. Joseph was a communicant of St. Anthony's Shrine Church in Troy. He is survived by his wife Karen E. (Shaw) Riley and two beloved daughters, Mrs. Josh (Tracey) Collins and Melissa Jo Riley; two brothers, Robert R. Riley Jr. and Michael C. Riley. Joseph is also survived by several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. Funeral will be on Wednesday morning from the Bizzarro Funeral Home, 171 Hill St., Troy, N.Y. Friends may call at the funeral home on Wednesday morning from 11 to 1 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held at St. Anthony's Shrine Church in Troy at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Troy. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Troy Boy's and Girl's Club at 1700 7th Ave., Troy, NY 12180 in Joseph's Memory.
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City says goodbye to Joe Riley, Son of Troy
By James V. Franco, The Record
08/30/2007
TROY - The city said good-bye to a friend Wednesday as Joseph Riley was laid to rest.
"It takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but a lifetime to forget them," said his niece Stacey Riley from the podium at the St. Anthony of Padua Shrine Church. "I'll never forget you Uncle Joe ... or your beautiful smile."
"He is organizing heaven's assembly and is negotiating a deal for all of us because, like here, he will be admired in heaven," said business associate Vincent Charlone from the podium. "We will all miss his smiling face."
Riley, 57, was killed on Aug. 25 after he was involved in a multi-car accident on Interstate 90 in Albany.
He was remembered Wednesday as a family man and for his work ethic, his integrity, his smile, his love of life and for just being an all around "good guy."
He served as Clifton Park town supervisor, the second and last Democrat to have the post, in 1990-91 and was in the mayor's race in his native Troy until dropping out in March.
"I have not heard one negative word either in person or in the paper that does not praise Joe," said the Rev. Mario Julian. "It does not matter what political group you belonged to, he worked with them all and got them to work together. All politicians should learn from Joe and make his work their work."
Outside of a political bent, Riley was active in the Collar City community, particularly his lifetime involvement at the Troy Boys & Girls Club. In 1962 he was a member and was named "boy of the year." This year he was the chairman of the club's fund-raising campaign.
Executive Director Ellen Roman said he was a fixture at the Seventh Avenue club, and in addition to raising funds essential to the club's operations he would often just hang out and help out or just talk to the kids about things like staying in school.
"He was amazing. Joe had an unmatched passion for the club and the kids we serve," she said. "He truly touched the lives of everyone at the club - the kids, the staff and his fellow board members.
"He had such an infectious smile and warmth about him that was great to witness. He truly cared about other people and it is not something you can fake. It came through with everything he did and how he treated everybody."
His popularity was evident when the city was forced to shut down State Street to accommodate the traffic and the church was packed with family and friends, including dignitaries from the state Assembly where Riley served as court reporter for 31 years before retiring two years ago.
He was particularly fond of fine wine and of the 1862 brownstone he refurbished on Fifth Avenue. He was also a communicant at St. Anthony's.
Father Julian said: "You can talk about his love for Troy. You can talk about his love for the Troy Boys & Girls Club. You can talk about the work he did in the Legislature. His whole life was about giving and that must mean something in heaven," Julian said. "Right now he is standing next to God and wondering what he is doing there and God brought him to a new kingdom and he saw the Troy he hoped it would be and he turned to God and said 'I'm home.'"
Donations in Riley's memory may be made to the Troy Boys & Girls Club, 1700 Seventh Ave., Troy NY, 12180.
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