Charles Alfred Riley, 74, of Windsor, MA died Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at his home after a brief battle with a very aggressive cancer. Born in Hartford, Connecticut on January 25, 1950, son of Charles H. and Merlyn Kelly Riley Charlie was also the grandson of his maternal grandparents Frank and Nel Kelly of Hartford CT.
He went to elementary school in Bridgton, Maine. His family moved to Wolfeboro, New Hampshire when he was in high school. He was a 1968 graduate of Kingswood H.S. in Wolfeboro. Continuing his education, he was a 1973 graduate of Northeastern University earning a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.
From 1981 to 2015, he was employed as an engineer for General Electric/General Dynamics in Pittsfield, MA. Before that, he had worked at Sprague Electric in North Adams, MA.
Charlie was a communicant of St. Agnes Church. There were many happy memories of his sons, Andy and Matt’s time in elementary school at St Agnes.
Charlie loved the outdoors. He fondly remembered being a boy scout, especially when he was chosen to go to a national jamboree in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. He grew up on a lake in Bridgton, Maine. He loved being on and in the water, whether on lakes or the ocean. He enjoyed swimming, sailing, and canoeing, and he had started enjoying snorkeling on recent vacations.
Skiing as a child and an adult was a passion. He joined the National Ski Patrol in 1994 and was a patroller at Brodie Mountain moving to Jiminy Peak in 2002 when Brodie closed. During his 28 years of patrolling, he served as an OET instructor at both mountains. His son, Andy, joined the patrol as a junior patroller serving until Brodie closed.
He thoroughly enjoyed attending all of Andy and Matt’s soccer, lacrosse, and cross-country running events.
Charlie was proudest about his service as a fireman and first responder with the Windsor Volunteer Fire Department. He was a member for more than 40 years.
Everyone will lovingly remember his kindness, his beard, his friendly smile, his flannel shirts, his honesty, his strength of mind and body, and also that he was always such a great helper and one of the best huggers, ever.
Charlie leaves his wife, Susan Moglia Riley, whom he married on June 15, 1974. He and Sue celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last year!
He is also survived by two sons, Andrew C. (wife Mayra Gonzalez) Riley of Winter Garden, Florida, and Matthew B. (wife Kat) Riley of Las Vegas, Nevada.; two brothers, Larry (wife Susan) Riley of Ohio, and Tom (wife Mary) Riley of Ariz.; and brother-in-law James Moglia (wife Izzy). Charlie was the beloved grandfather of his four grandchildren, Karolyna, Kayden, Lily, and Violet; as well as many nieces and nephews, and other family members. We cannot forget to mention that he was also a loving pet parent for their pup, Chloe.
The family would like to thank the 3rd-floor staff at BMC, especially Dr. Jason Toughey. His ability to listen and explain treatment made this very hard time much more bearable. Hospice Care in the Berkshires was also extremely helpful.
Funeral services for Charles A. Riley will be held Saturday, March 1, 2025, with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 11:30 a.m. at St. Agnes Church celebrated by Rev. Christopher A. Malatesta, Pastor. Calling hours will precede the Mass from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at Dery-Foley Funeral Home in Dalton, Massachusetts. Burial will be in the Spring in Shaw Road Cemetery, Windsor. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Mr. Riley may be made to the Windsor Fire Department in care of DERY-FOLEY FUNERAL HOME, 890 East Main Street, Dalton.
