Howard Schell Reilly ’55

One classmate who seemed to have a shot at the U.S. presidency was Howard Reilly, who died May 31, 1995. As a sophomore president of the WhigCliosophic Society, he buttonholed six U.S. senators to come to Princeton to critique the first Eisenhower administration, including Jack Kennedy and Wayne Morse. On Class Day, he held forth in Alexander Hall before our jaded, knowing bunch, noting the tireless reseeding and re-sodding of Holder Court every spring and other common experiences, drawing laughter and tears.

Howard was not just one of 32 Rhodes Scholars nationwide. He was their leader. A Philadelphian, he chose to go west after graduation to broaden his horizons-by working at the dog track in Denver.

After Oxford and Harvard Law School, Howard returned to Denver to work for the leading law firm. A few years later he made an abrupt career change, moving to NYC to become an actor, persisting for several years, often doing menial labor to sustain himself. He then made another major move to study runic languages and cultures in Iceland.

His last 15 years were devoted to providing counsel to migratory farm workers and others at Mid

Hudson Legal services in Poughkeepsie. A brilliant and giving man, he also generously assisted Princeton Project 55. Even while dying of AIDS, his courage and spirit and sense of humor did not leave him.

The Class of 1955