Gerard “Jerry” Joseph Reilly Jr., 75, of the Belford section of Middletown, passed away Jan. 7, 2021. Gerard was born in Long Branch and grew up in Port Monmouth. Gerard attended Saint Mary’s Catholic School and was among the first graduating class of Christian Brothers Academy in 1963. Gerard proudly served his country in the U.S. Army. He was stationed in Vietnam from 1966 to 1968 and received several medals. He resided in Belford for over 40 years.
Gerard was an avid fisherman, at one point fishing commercially out of the Belford Docks before accepting a job with the Department of the Navy as a heavy equipment mechanic. He retired in 2006 as an ordnance production controller. Gerard kept active with his family, friends and memberships at The Middletown Elks, VFW and American Legion, along with riding his custom-built Harley.
Gerard was predeceased by his wife of 32 years, Eileen C. Reilly, and his parents, Dolores Iglay Reilly and Gerard Reilly Sr. He is survived by daughter Colleen and her husband Brett Sammond of Ocean County and their daughters Olivia and Jillian; and daughter Bridget and her husband Chris Harris of Belford and their children Griffin and Paige. He is also survived by his sister Kathleen Reilly of Virginia Beach, Virginia, cousin John Treiber Sr. of Florham Park and many family and friends who will miss him dearly.
At this time there will be no services; a celebration of Gerard’s life will take place at a date to be determined. Interment will be private at the mausoleum at Fairview Cemetery. The family asks that in lieu of flowers donations be made in Gerard’s name to one of the following charities:
Middletown Elks Lodge 2179, 251 Church St., Belford, NJ 07718; Kenneth F. Tietjen Memorial Foundation, P.O. Box 494, Holmdel, NJ 07733; or Ma Deuce Deuce/MA22.ORG, 7 Apache Drive, Toms River, NJ 08753.
The article originally appeared in the February 11 – 17, 2021 print edition of The Two River Times.
