TROY – Thomas M. Riley, Sr., 79, formerly of Watervliet, passed away peacefully on Wednesday morning, December 19, 2018 at Samaritan Hospital surrounded by his loving family.

Born in Troy on April 25, 1939, he was the son of the late James M. and Blanche Peterson Riley. Tom was raised in Watervliet and graduated from School 3 and Watervliet High School.

Tom was employed by the Golub Corporation for over 41 years. He began his career with the Central Market in Watervliet and later was a store manager with Price Chopper in North Adams, MA, Latham, North Troy and Watervliet before retiring in 1999.

He also enjoyed working with his best friend, Ron Bagley at Forget Me Not Florist in North Troy along with his wife Dot.

He was the past president of the Watervliet AOH and was a lifetime member of the Troy Knights of Columbus. He was a communicant of the former Sacred Heart of Mary Church in Watervliet, St. Patrick’s Church in Troy where he was a Eucharistic Minister and served many functions and most recently at St. Anne Maronite Catholic Church in Watervliet.

Tom was the mastermind of the 16th Street Tree Lighting and Winter Wonderland every year in Watervliet. Along with his neighbors Ralph Fera and Dan Meyer, he turned the street and boulevards into a winter carnival every year for the community to enjoy.

He was the beloved husband of 43 years of the late Dorothy “Dot” M. Manley Riley who died in 2005; the best dad of Thom (Terry) Riley of Glenville, Michael T. (Jean Marie) Riley of Waterford, Mary E. (Bruce) Beauchamp of Manorville, NY, Lisa A (late Matt) Alaxanian of Watervliet, Paul R. (Christina) Riley of Latham and Kristin J. (Matt) Bertrand of Brunswick; proud grandfather of Ian (Kristen) Riley, Erin (Matt) Dobbs, Makenzie Riley, Katelyn (Justin) Sultzbach, Michael, Eric and Megan Riley, Lexa his granddog, Jessica and Ashley Alaxanian, Nicholas and Hannah Gavin, Nicholas, Sidney and Samantha Bertrand; great grandfather of Magnolia and Azalea Dobbs; dear brother of John (Anna Mary) Riley of Wellesley, MA, Kathleen (Jim) Pallotolo of Colonie, Ann Marie Riley of Watervliet and the late James (Anna survives) Riley of Troy, the late George (late Zelda) Riley and the late Vincent Riley. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

His funeral mass will be Saturday at 9:00 am at St. Augustine’s Church, 4th Avenue & 115th Street in Lansingburgh with his nephew, Rev. Edward Riley as the main celebrant. Interment will follow in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Watervliet. Relatives and friends are invited and may also call at the Parker Bros. Memorial, 2013 Broadway, Watervliet on Friday from 4-7 pm.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Shriner’s Hospitals for Children, Development Office, 516 Carew Street, Springfield, MA 01104 or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Condolence book at ParkerBrosMemorial.com.

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