Joe Reilly

Joe Reilly passed away on Saturday morning, February 25th, with family by his side, at Uihlein Mercy Center where he resided since December 2005.

He was born Joseph John Reilly on a small farm near Egg Harbor City, NJ on January 9, 1925, the youngest son of Loretta (nee Doyle) and Henry Reilly.

Joe was orphaned during the depression in Brooklyn, NY, where he lived on the streets briefly before finding his way to Lincoln Hall in 1938. Lincoln Hall (formerly Lincoln Agricultural School) was formed under the auspices of the New York Catholic Protectory as a facility for the care and treatment of destitute Catholic children. Joe enjoyed his time with the Christian Brothers. In 1939, he rode in a car for the first time. It was a chauffeur-driven sedan carrying him and his representative from the Protectorate, Mr. Hart, to the Blain farm in Champlain, NY. Mr. Hart made arrangements for Joe to live with the Blain family. Mr. Hart brought many children to the North Country. While in Champlain, Joe was loved by his "Ma," Mrs. Alma Blain. To Joe's children, she was "Nana." He attended the one-room schoolhouse and did chores with Louis (also taken-in) and Alma's son Gerald. Before getting his high school diploma, Joe joined the Marine Corps at the age of sixteen and completed boot camp at the age of seventeen on Paris Island. Prior to deployment, he participated in amateur boxing matches. In 1942, he deployed to the South Pacific where Joe volunteered for the Third Raider Battalion. Following the decimation of the 1st and 2nd Raiders (progenitors to today's special forces) the Third was the only Marine battalion ever formed entirely overseas (Samoa). Joe saw action at New Georgia, Bougainville, the Solomons, and New Guinea. Joe's hearing was severely affected in one ear while working in a pack howitzer unit, and he was hospitalized at Corona Naval Hospital for elephantiasis.

After discharge, Joe lived in San Francisco until his brother Charlie found him and together they drove back to New York. Joe returned to Champlain after the war where he owned a painting business. Later, he worked as a lineman for NY Telephone. He met and married Jean Elaine Angell in 1951. They had three sons, Dan, Tim, and Jeff. After several promotions, Joe became terminal manager for Augsbury Corp. in Plattsburgh. In 1962, Joe became 50% owner, and general manager, of Latour Fuel Company in Saranac Lake. In 1964, he became sole shareholder. As 50% owner and with Leon Latour, president, in August of 1964, Latour Fuel Co. donated the land for the new hospital, where AMC stands today. Joe became an avid skier and turned his family into skiers at Bear Mountain, Skyline, Pisgah, and Whiteface. He enjoyed bringing his family to the Laurentians to ski at Gabriel and Tremblant. While in Saranac Lake, Joe was a member of the Rotary Club, President of the Chamber of Commerce, and Chairman of the St. Bernard's Church Building Committee (after the old church burned). As Winter Carnival Chairman (two years in a row) he brought Judy Carne and Ed Platte to Saranac Lake. Judy enjoyed a snowmobile ride to Zeke Vandenburgh's fishing shanty on Lower Saranac. Jean and Joe divorced in 1976. Joe married Yolande Giselle Langevin in 1978. They lived in Montreal where Joe worked for Farquar Robinson Fuels. They later resided in Upper Jay before settling in Plattsburgh. Joe and Yolande had years of close-knit family life together with Yolande's extended family in Saint Valentin, Quebec. Joe was well-liked while working at the ARC Workshop in Plattsburgh, bringing-in many valuable contracts. He founded and operated Industrial Packaging, Inc. in Champlain for several years before working at Homenergy Services, Inc. with his sons in Saranac Lake. He suffered a stroke in 1998 and could no longer work full-time. Joe was pre-deceased by Jean, Yolande, his brother Harry, and sisters Loretta, and Margie. He is survived by his brother Charlie of Christianburg, VA, son Daniel and wife Aggie Saranac Lake, son Tim and wife Debbie of West Hartford, CT, son Jeff of Saranac Lake, and grandchildren, Sarah, Erica, Amanda, Owen and Hannah, as well as Sam and Allison Blain, and his brothers-in-law Raymond and Noella Langevin, Michel and Carole Langevin, and Francois and Claire Langevin, and sister-in-law Suzanne Langevin and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Calling hours will be from 1 to 3 on Saturday, March Third, at Fortune Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake, immediately followed by a funeral service at the funeral home and a reception nearby to be announced. After cremation, internment in the spring will be at Saint Valentin Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Joe's memory may be made to Mercy Care for the Adirondacks, Inc. (adkmercy.org) or to Uihlein Mercy Center, Lake Placid, where Joe received wonderful care. Family and friends can also share their memories and sign the online guest book at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.