Brian P. O’Reilly

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Brian P. O’Reilly, age 58, of Ocean Grove and formerly of Wayne.  Brian passed away peacefully on Sunday January 15, 2023 while receiving the loving care of his family.

Brian was born in Pequannock and was raised in the Packanack Lake section of Wayne.  He was the youngest of five children to Hugh and Phyllis O’Reilly.  While growing up in Wayne, Brian took an interest in music and taught himself guitar.  As a young student attending Wayne Valley High School, he was a member of the high school marching band playing trombone.  He was also active in the school’s theatre program and qualified for the All-Eastern Chorus with his rendition of Ave Maria. Ever since he was young, Brian took an interest in politics, and as a student in high school he ran for Class President. 

Following his graduation from Wayne Valley High School with the class of 1982, he enrolled at Montclair State College where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science.  He went on to Rutgers University Law School where in 1989 he received his Juris Doctor degree.  

After passing the New Jersey State Bar exam, Brian found employment quickly, from 1989 to 1990 he worked with the Appellate Division Court in Hackensack where he did legal research and writing as well a civil and criminal litigation.  He also had a private legal practice for many years in Wayne and Newark where he practiced Criminal Law, Family Law and General Civil Litigation.  He also worked for Stoldt, Horan & Kowal in Hackensack where he represented corporate clients in insurance defense and municipal law.  Brian also worked with Allstate Insurance Company as well as Vasios, Kelly & Strollo, P.C. in Union, NJ where he represented clients in medical malpractice insurance defense cases.  Along with his various expert skills in litigation, Brian also was a major advocate for Marriage-Equality at the time when the movement was getting underway.  Brian’s career as an Attorney spanned nearly thirty-five years where he was truly well loved and respected by his peers, clients and colleagues.

Brian lived most of his life in Wayne until moving to Ocean Grove in 2011.  Throughout his life he had a wide variety of interests.  Brian enjoyed reading as well as the self-publishing media called “blogging.”  He was an avid reader and liked keeping up with current events especially in the political genre, both local and national.  He and his family treasured their annual vacations to Cape Cod where they would take part in whale watching and other activities.  His family also took a wonderfully memorable trip to England.  Brian never lost his love for music. He kept up with his singing and sang in a local church choir after moving to Ocean Grove, NJ. 

Brian has been described by many people to be a true gentleman.  He was a genuine intellectual and had a truly diverse vocabulary and was a skilled wordsmith.  He had a deep love for his family and friends and will be forever remembered as a kind and caring man, as well as a true professional. Brian touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew him.

Brian is survived by his four siblings; his two sisters Jean O’Reilly of Wayne, NJ and Maura Kayal and her husband John of Wayne, NJ, his two brothers; Jack O’Reilly and his wife Mary of Wayne, NJ, and Dr. Michael O’Reilly of San Jose, CA, two nieces; Andrea Kayal of Midland Park, NJ, and Shannon Leahy of Rockaway, NJ, five nephews; Brendan O’Reilly of Wayne, NJ, Sean O’Reilly of Valley Village, CA, Jeffrey Kayal of Wayne, NJ, Ryan Kayal of Wayne, NJ, and Danny Kayal of North Carolina, two grandnieces Opal, and Fiona, and his dear friend Mark Laico of Linden NJ.  He was predeceased by his nephew Padraic O’Reilly, his parents Hugh and Phyllis O’Reilly, and his sister-in-law Saundra O’Reilly. 

In lieu of flowers, donations in Brian’s name may be made to The Sharing Network Foundation, www.njsharingnetwork.org