Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home

NEW HARBOR - Donald Thomas Reilly, 86, of New Harbor passed away on June 1st, 2014, at his home with his loving wife and children at his bedside. Born in Rockland, March 8, 1928, Don was the son of Carroll and Evelyn Kalloch Reilly. He graduated from Thomaston High School in 1946 and attended Colby College. From 1950 to 1952, he served his country in the U.S. Army, attached to the transportation battalion, while stationed in France. He was a member of the Wells-Hussey American Legion Post No. 42 in Damariscotta. Don served as postmaster in New Harbor, from 1953 until his retirement in 1986. After his retirement, he returned to his lifelong passion of commercial fishing and leisure boating. His greatest love, other than his family, was to be on the water. Don was an original founding member and trustee of the Fisherman's Museum of Pemaquid Point. He would often say the Maine coast is beautiful from the land but even more spectacular from the ocean.
Don was a lifelong sports enthusiast both as a participant and spectator. In recent years, he was a big fan of the Lincoln Academy basketball and baseball teams regularly attending their games, both home and away. In January of 2012, he was presented with the 2011 Fan of the Year Award. This was a distinction for which he was very proud, as attending the games brought him great joy.
Predeceased by his parents, many aunts, uncles, and cousins, Don is survived by his wife, Barbara Vinal Reilly of New Harbor; five sons, Dana Reilly and his wife Emily of Durham, Alan Reilly and his wife Cheryl of Freeport, Keith Reilly of Damariscotta, Ted Reilly and his wife Shelly of Durham, Neil Reilly and his fiancé Margaret of Pemaquid; one daughter, Robin Reilly and her husband Lloyd Roenfeldt of Lantana, Florida; two step-children; Richard Thurlow and his wife Maria of Oxford, Deborah Thurlow of Westerly, Rhode Island; his grandchildren, James, Kevin, Michael and his girlfriend Crystal, Daniel and his wife Tabitha, Brent, Eric and his girlfriend Victoria, Margaret and her wife Peach, Kathryn and her boyfriend Jeremy, and Sean and his fiancé Seth; his step- grandchildren Brye and Viktor; his great-grandchildren Xavier, Noah, Lily and Killian; as well as many cousins.
Friends and relatives are invited to visit from 1:00 to 2:00 P.M., Saturday, June 7, 2014, at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland, where a Celebration of Don’s Life will begin at 2:00 P.M. A reception will follow the service at the funeral home’s 104 Limerock, reception facility. Interment with Military Honors will follow the reception at Achorn Cemetery, Old County Road, Rockland. Don’s service may be viewed live by visiting his Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com, at 2:00 P.M., Saturday.
Those who wish may make memorial donations to Miles and St. Andrews Home Health and Hospice, 40 Belvedere Road, Damariscotta, ME 04543, Bristol First Responders, 104 Southside Road, New Harbor, ME 04554 or Fisherman's Museum at Pemaquid Point.
To share a memory or story with Don's family, please visit his Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.