Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy’s longtime friend and employee John Reilly died in the Jersey City Medical Center on Saturday, according to city spokesperson Jennifer Morrill.
As reported before, on Feb. 15, Reilly was taken to the Jersey City Medical Center after he became ill and then collapsed at the Astor Bar on Montgomery Street after an argument with another patron, which was verbal but did not escalate into a physical confrontation.
According to five city sources, the other patron Reilly was allegedly arguing with is an employee of the city’s Department of Public Works.
Morrill said the investigation is ongoing into the Astor Bar incident but no further information was available. Jersey City Police Chief Thomas Comey urges anyone with information about the incident to come forward and contact police at (201) 547-JAIL (5245).
Sources said Reilly had been on life support since the collapse.
Reilly had been the mayor’s liaison to the city’s autonomous agencies, and Healy’ s friend for over 25 years.
Healy issued the following statement on O’Reilly’s death:
“John Reilly was a friend of mine for 25 years. He was there when I first ran for political office back in 1997, he was there in 2001 when I ran for an At-Large Council seat and John was there helping us in ’04 and ’05. He has done a fine job for me and the city as a liaison to several autonomous agencies keeping track of how city business was being conducted. He was not only a key person for me with the agencies and as an aide, but he was a true friend of mine and to a lot of people. John had thousands of friends all over Jersey City and he has been here his whole life. Despite some tough times growing up, John did well for himself and for his family. His family is terribly upset now, and they and all of us, are going to miss a great friend and a great friend of Jersey City .” – Ricardo Kaulessar