Ria Riley

Ria Riley passed away June 7, 2014, after a long battle with kidney disease. As a career educator, community volunteer, and bridge player, she touched many lives in Central New York; Sun City Center, Florida; and Austin, Texas.

Aurelia Marie Frone was born March 21, 1937 in Albany, New York, the only child of Agnes Aiossa and Fred J. Frone. She grew up in Clinton Park, East Greenbush and attended St. Mary’s school until the eighth grade. After graduating from Columbia High School, Ria desired to go away to college, but her father promised her a car if she stayed home and attended SUNY Albany. Little did she know her father wouldn’t give her the car until after graduation! She earned a BS in education in 1955. She quickly accepted a job in Syracuse to start her teaching career, and also graduated from Syracuse University with a master’s degree and ABD (all but dissertation) in education.

During the summers off, Ria and her friends rented a lake house in the Finger Lakes. It was there she met the love of her life, Charles B. Riley. Ria and Chuck were married July 30, 1960 on Chuck’s 27th birthday, and shared more than fifty happy years together.

Ria taught business at Central Square High School, Central City Business Institute, Most Holy Rosary High School, and Cicero-North Syracuse High School, where she ended her career as Dean. She was a passionate and beloved educator who always advocated for the children she taught. She firmly believed teachers are professionals, and crossed the picket lines during the 1976 North Syracuse teachers’ strike. Ria was honored to be the 1978 commencement speaker at North Syracuse High School.

After retiring in 1992, Ria and Chuck played duplicate bridge, achieving Life Master status. As they made plans to move to Sun City Center, Florida, Ria was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease. She endured several rounds of dialysis in Syracuse and then in Sun City before receiving a life-saving kidney transplant in March 1998. Although her recovery was long and difficult, she worked hard to take care of her kidney, and never suffered a rejection episode in 16 years as a transplant recipient.

Ria served the community in several ways: as a SCORE volunteer, as board member of the Sun City Center Community Association, and as a bridge director. In 2007, she moved to Austin to be closer to her daughter. She served as president of the Covered Bridge Gardens homeowners association before moving to The Summit at Westlake Hills, and finally, Atria at the Arboretum.

Ria leaves her husband, Chuck Riley; daughter and son-in-law Pam and Joe Horn; son and daughter-in-law Scot Riley and Tracy Labonte; grandchildren Kevin Jefferson Horn and wife Lindsay Sunshine Horn; Jillian Ria Horn; Carolyn Jane, Michael Peter, John Christopher and Benjamin Andrew Riley; and great-grandson Rainn Robert Horn. A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 28, 2014 at 10:30 am at Remembrance Gardens, 4214 Capital of Texas Highway North, Austin, Texas 78746. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the American Association of University Women, 1111 Sixteenth St. NW, Washington, DC 20036 http://www.aauw.org/contribute/.

Farewell My Friends

It was beautiful as long as it lasted
The journey of my life.
I have no regrets whatsoever
Save the pain I'll leave behind.
Those dear hearts who love and care
and the heavy with sleep ever moist eyes.
The smile, in spite of a lump in the throat
And the strings pulling at the heart and soul.
The strong arms that held me up
when my own strength let me down
At every turning of my life I came across good friends.
Friends who stood by me,
even when the time raced me by.
Farewell, farewell, my friends
I smile and bid you goodbye.
No, shed no tears for I need them not
All I need is your smile.
If you feel sad do think of me
For that's what I'd like
When you live in the hearts of those you love,
Remember then…
You never die.

Rabindranath Tagore, Bengali poet and philosopher (1861 - 1941)