Frank Butler Reilly, Jr. died peacefully on October 24, 2020 at the age of 75. He was born October 9, 1945 in Montclair to Kathleen O’Connell Reilly and Frank Butler Reilly, Sr.
Raised in West Orange, New Jersey, Frank was a graduate of West Orange High School and a member of the West Orange Athletic Hall of Fame. He earned his B.S. in Accounting from St. Peter's University and his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law. He served as a First Lieutenant in the United States Army before earning his L.L.M. from Georgetown University Law Center.
Frank was an attorney with Gibbons P.C. in Newark, NJ where he was a longtime Partner in the firm’s Corporate Department. Frank joined Gibbons in 1979 and helped to build the Corporate Department into one of the region’s most well known and highly respected corporate practices. Frank focused his own practice on regional, national, and global merger and acquisition transactions. He also handled corporate finance transactions and, in recent years, wide-ranging energy project developments and investments. He often represented tax-exempt organizations, including his longtime service as external General Counsel for the Institute for Supply Management, Inc. Throughout his nearly fifty-year career, he was the recipient of numerous professional honors and awards.
Frank was an active alumnus of St. Peter’s University where he served on the Board of Trustees, past Chairman of the Board of Regents, and was the recipient of the University’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 1996. He was also active in all of his children's schools, including the Delbarton School where he served as a Trustee of the Scholarship Committee; Kent Place School where he served as President of the Athletic Association; and served as a member of the Parents Committee of Middlebury College, Colgate University, and Hobart College.
Frank’s greatest accomplishment is his close-knit family. He was immensely proud that his legacy is the love of his five children, his daughter-in-law, his three sons-in-law, and nine grandchildren. He made an impression on everyone he encountered and will be remembered for his ever-present smile, infectious laugh, patience, volunteerism, love of a dance floor, family toasts and unlimited time for those whom he loved.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Richard Reilly.
Frank is survived by his wife of forty-eight years Cathy; his children Shannon Fidyk (Chris), Brian Reilly, Courtney Stafford (Grove), Patrick Reilly (Evan), and Kerry Bennett (Rob); his siblings Kathleen George (Andy), Daniel Reilly (Kathy), Eileen Morton (Bob), Robert Reilly (Marge), and Marian Cardace (Tom); his sister-in-law Vivienne Reilly; and his brother-in-law and best friend Raymond Flood (Phyllis). He is also survived by his grandchildren, to whom he was their beloved “Daideo”, Lulu Fidyk, Kitt Fidyk, Reilly Fidyk, Hazel Fidyk, Grove Stafford, Graham Stafford, May Stafford, Patrick Reilly, Virginia Reilly along with a host of nieces and nephews.
Frank was a long time member of the Essex Hunt Club in Peapack, NJ and the Little Egg Harbor Yacht Club in Beach Haven, NJ, the latter of which he served as Past Commodore and as a Trustee. He and his wife were also recipients of the club’s Commodore’s Cup in recognition of their many years of service to
the club.
A private service for the immediate family will be held in Summit, NJ and a celebration of his life will be held by the family in the spring. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Frank’s name to St.
Peter’s University, 2641 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Jersey City, NJ.
Raised in West Orange, New Jersey, Frank was a graduate of West Orange High School and a member of the West Orange Athletic Hall of Fame. He earned his B.S. in Accounting from St. Peter's University and his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law. He served as a First Lieutenant in the United States Army before earning his L.L.M. from Georgetown University Law Center.
Frank was an attorney with Gibbons P.C. in Newark, NJ where he was a longtime Partner in the firm’s Corporate Department. Frank joined Gibbons in 1979 and helped to build the Corporate Department into one of the region’s most well known and highly respected corporate practices. Frank focused his own practice on regional, national, and global merger and acquisition transactions. He also handled corporate finance transactions and, in recent years, wide-ranging energy project developments and investments. He often represented tax-exempt organizations, including his longtime service as external General Counsel for the Institute for Supply Management, Inc. Throughout his nearly fifty-year career, he was the recipient of numerous professional honors and awards.
Frank was an active alumnus of St. Peter’s University where he served on the Board of Trustees, past Chairman of the Board of Regents, and was the recipient of the University’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 1996. He was also active in all of his children's schools, including the Delbarton School where he served as a Trustee of the Scholarship Committee; Kent Place School where he served as President of the Athletic Association; and served as a member of the Parents Committee of Middlebury College, Colgate University, and Hobart College.
Frank’s greatest accomplishment is his close-knit family. He was immensely proud that his legacy is the love of his five children, his daughter-in-law, his three sons-in-law, and nine grandchildren. He made an impression on everyone he encountered and will be remembered for his ever-present smile, infectious laugh, patience, volunteerism, love of a dance floor, family toasts and unlimited time for those whom he loved.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Richard Reilly.
Frank is survived by his wife of forty-eight years Cathy; his children Shannon Fidyk (Chris), Brian Reilly, Courtney Stafford (Grove), Patrick Reilly (Evan), and Kerry Bennett (Rob); his siblings Kathleen George (Andy), Daniel Reilly (Kathy), Eileen Morton (Bob), Robert Reilly (Marge), and Marian Cardace (Tom); his sister-in-law Vivienne Reilly; and his brother-in-law and best friend Raymond Flood (Phyllis). He is also survived by his grandchildren, to whom he was their beloved “Daideo”, Lulu Fidyk, Kitt Fidyk, Reilly Fidyk, Hazel Fidyk, Grove Stafford, Graham Stafford, May Stafford, Patrick Reilly, Virginia Reilly along with a host of nieces and nephews.
Frank was a long time member of the Essex Hunt Club in Peapack, NJ and the Little Egg Harbor Yacht Club in Beach Haven, NJ, the latter of which he served as Past Commodore and as a Trustee. He and his wife were also recipients of the club’s Commodore’s Cup in recognition of their many years of service to
the club.
A private service for the immediate family will be held in Summit, NJ and a celebration of his life will be held by the family in the spring. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Frank’s name to St.
Peter’s University, 2641 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Jersey City, NJ.