John Harvey Reilly, Jr. of Bryn Mawr, PA and Hobe Sound, FL died peacefully Tuesday May 1, 2012 in Denver, Colorado from pulmonary disease. He was 71 years old.


Until his death, Mr. Reilly, whom insisted on being called 'John,' was the Chairman and CEO of Philadelphia based United Refrigeration, Inc. and affiliated companies. Mr. Reilly, known as one of the most respected, premier leaders and spokespersons in the refrigeration and air conditioning industry, was born in Teaneck, NJ on March 26, 1941. He lived in the Philadelphia area for the majority of his life and attended The Malvern Preparatory School (class of 1959) and Villanova University. He also worked from a very young age at United Refrigeration – the company his parents founded (the late John Harvey Reilly and Mary Ahearn Reilly) and ultimately led the company for the last 35 years.


John was a skillful businessman, savvy negotiator, engineer, inventor and entrepreneur. A definite risk taker with pure perseverance, John never took the word 'no' as an answer. At the same time, he displayed traits of a quiet confidence and was admired for his low-key generosity, silently helping others in all walks of life.


An adventurer at heart, John's interests were diverse. John had a love for aviation and the independence of the sky. He piloted his own planes. He was an avid scuba diver and a simple traveler of the world, who always insisted to his fellow travelers, 'only bring what you can carry.' But above all interests, John's truest love was the sea – he was a passionate mariner and could always be found doing his own captaining or his head in the engines tinkering with the 'jobs of the day.' And at the end of those days, John would be found sitting on the back deck of his boat, hoping for a beautiful sunset and drinking a glass or two of his favorite chardonnay.


One of John's favorite sayings 'if you say you can't you never will, but if you try, you just might' as well as the lyrics from his favorite song, Frank Sinatra's, 'I Did it My Way' are perfect descriptors of John and the way he lived his life.


John is survived by his daughter, Elizabeth Reilly Brubaker (Michael), son, John Harvey Reilly, III (Gillian); wife, Margaret 'Peggy' Madden Reilly; four granddaughters, sisters Mary Reilly Dugery and Patricia Reilly; many nieces and nephews and friend Julia Realley.


A Funeral Mass will be held Wednesday, May 9th, 10 A.M., at St. Katharine of Siena Church, Lancaster & Aberdeen Aves., Wayne PA. Interment will be in West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, PA. Relatives and friends are invited to visit with John's family at St. Katharine of Siena Church on Tuesday, May 8th, from 4 to 8 P.M. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John's name to National Jewish Health, 1400 Jackson Street, A551 Denver CO 80206, Attention: Gregory Cosgrove MD / The JHR Research Fund.