Memorial service for former Mayor John (Jack) B. O’Reilly Jr. to be held Feb. 1
Published Jan. 6, 2025
DEARBORN, MI - A public memorial service to honor the life and legacy of former Dearborn Mayor John (Jack) B. O’Reilly Jr. will be held on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, from 1 - 4 p.m. at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Ave. Community members are invited to attend to pay tribute to Mayor O’Reilly and offer their condolences to his family.
Additional details regarding the memorial service will be provided at Dearborn.gov as more information is available.
About Mayor John (Jack) B. O’Reilly Jr.
Born in 1948, John (Jack) B. O’Reilly Jr., son of former Mayor John. B. O’Reilly Sr., devoted his life to service and his hometown. Mayor O’Reilly Jr. served as the president of the Dearborn City Council for nearly two decades from 1990 to 2007, when he began his 14-year tenure as Dearborn’s sixth mayor.
As Dearborn’s chief executive, Mayor O’Reilly cultivated crucial regional and statewide partnerships and bolstered economic growth across the city. Through the end of his final term in 2021, Mayor O’Reilly continued to pave the way for necessary upgrades to numerous City of Dearborn services.
His legacy is forever celebrated in countless ways, including as the namesake of one of Dearborn’s City-owned residential buildings, John B. O’Reilly Jr. Manor, which was recently renamed in his honor by Dearborn Mayor Abdullah H. Hammoud and Dearborn’s 34th City Council on Sept. 24, 2024.
On Jan. 1, 2025, Mayor O’Reilly passed away peacefully, surrounded by family and friends. He is survived by his wife of nearly 50 years, Christine; his wonderful children: Devon (Melissa), Sean (Ronit), and Dylan (Natlija); and his beloved grandchildren: Kai, Quinn, Madison, Connor, and Henry.
More information about Mayor O’Reilly’s service to the City of Dearborn is available on the Dearborn Historical Museum’s website at TheDHM.org/Mayors-Exhibit.
An obituary in honor of Mayor O’Reilly has also been shared on the Howe Peterson Funeral & Cremation Services website at HowePeterson.com.
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Published Jan. 1, 2025
DEARBORN, MI - The City of Dearborn is saddened to announce the passing of former Dearborn mayor John B. O’Reilly Jr.
The following statement was shared by his son, Devon O’Reilly, on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025:
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of John B. O'Reilly Jr. who died peacefully January 1st, 2025 listening to his favorite music and poems while surrounded by family.
Known by most simply as ‘Jack’, he was a true son of Dearborn. Having served as City Council President for seventeen years and Mayor of Dearborn for fifteen, he dedicated nearly his entire life to public service and the city he cared most about.
A tireless advocate for enhancing the communities of Southeastern Michigan, he was active in numerous organizations including the Michigan Municipal League, Downriver Community Conference, United States Conference of Mayors, Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, Conference of Western Wayne, Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Urban Core Mayors.
His years of public service extended beyond the local level to meaningful contributions he made at both the State and Federal Government. He inherited his dedication to public service from his father, John B. O'Reilly Sr., who served as both Chief of Police and Mayor for the city of Dearborn previously.
Jack lived a rich and fulfilled life with his wife of forty-eight years, Christina, their three sons Devon (Melissa), Sean (Ronit), Dylan (Natlija) along with his five grandchildren: Kai, Quinn, Madison, Connor, and Henry.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations in his name to Dearborn Education Foundation or Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit. Information regarding a public memorial service will be shared in the coming days.
In response to the passing of former Mayor O’Reilly, Dearborn Mayor Abdullah H. Hammoud issued the following statement:
“It is with deep sorrow that we mourn the passing of former Mayor John B. O'Reilly Jr., known to so many as ‘Jack’.
A devoted husband, father, and grandfather, Jack’s unwavering dedication to Dearborn and its people will forever be remembered. His legacy as a public servant, having served as both City Council President and Mayor for over three decades, stands as a testament to his love for this community. Jack’s tireless advocacy helped shape the city and region in many ways we know today.
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