Dr. Francis Patricia "Pat" O'Reilly, renowned for her academic work in early childhood development over a 35-year career at the University of Cincinnati, as well as for being a pioneering feminist, beloved Aunt to Cary and Kevin O'Reilly of Maryland, devoted sister of the late Joseph C. O'Reilly II of Cincinnati, and a huge fan of dogs everywhere, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 12. She was 87. Dr. O'Reilly had a tremendous impact in the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services, the University of Cincinnati and the Greater Cincinnati community. She was a proud and loyal alumna and an outstanding faculty member at UC, where she rose through the ranks from Instructor at University College to Professor in the College of Education, responsible for the division of Education Studies from 1994 to 1997. Born in Catlettsburg, Kentucky, Dr. O'Reilly completed all her academic work at UC, including a B.S. in Child Development, a Master of Education in Counseling and Guidance, and an interdisciplinary Ph. D. in Psychology and Sociology. After serving as Director of Recreational Therapy at Children's Hospital Medical Center for fourteen years, she began as Instructor and Coordinator of the Child Care Technology program at UC and was promoted to Assistant Professor of Child Development and Director of Arlitt Child Development Center; then Associate Professor, and Coordinator of Educational Foundations in the Department of Educational Leadership, joining the Women's Studies Faculty in 1985. After a two-year break, she again served in a leadership capacity as Head of the Department of Educational Foundations and in 1994 she became Professor and Head of the Division of Education Studies. Dr. O'Reilly's contributions to the university and the larger community were particularly notable with her work and commitment to gender equity. Her papers and presentations in this arena are legend, benefiting the National Organization of Women, the Regional Conference of Women Judges, a regional conference for adolescent girls at Wright State University, local high schools, the Ohio Board of Education, the Greater Cincinnati Women Lawyers Association, the YWCA, Cincinnati Youth Collaborative, the Federal Women's Program of the EPA, the Federal Women's Program of the IRS, the American Montessori Society, the American Chemical Society Women's Caucus, and the National Women's Studies Association Conference. Internationally, Professor O'Reilly presented papers and consulted in Spain, Taiwan, England, and Australia. Her scholarship was equally impressive with numerous articles, book chapters and co-editorship of a book, "Educating Young Adolescent Girls." Dr. O'Reilly was also renowned for her community service. Some of her involvements include membership on the Committee of 100 to plan a new Walnut Hills community school, Board member of East End Community Heritage School, NAACP Education Committee, Sexual Harassment Task Force and Sex Equity Office of the Ohio Department of Education, and the Gender Equity Committee and Parent Leadership Training Program for Cincinnati Public Schools. She was president of the Cincinnati Association for the Education of Young Children and chaired the Policy Advisory Committee for the Parent-Child Center in Over-the-Rhine. She coordinated a college-sponsored conference for 700 adolescent girls from local schools. Selected honors include the Sylvia Boltz Tucker Award for Leadership and Service to the college, the Just Community Award for promoting equity at the University, special recognition from Ohio Department of Education for "Leadership and Commitment to Educational Equity," Phi Delta Kappa, and the Friends of Women's Studies Distinguished Alumna Award. She also secured funding from Dr. Ada Hart Arlitt to build the Arlitt Center at U.C. She designed and supervised the building of the center, and secured the first Head Start grant at the university. The College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services Alumni Association presented her the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2003. Pat was a proud Bearcat, a formidable Irish woman, a seeker of Justice, a friend and mentor to countless Cincinnatians, a lover of dogs far and wide, and the best Aunt ever. We miss you, Pat. Visitation 3:00 p.m., Friday, November 17, 2017, at Walker Funeral Home, 1025 E. McMillan Street, Cincinnati (45206). Funeral service will begin at 4:00 p.m. Interment on Saturday, November 18, 2017, at Walnut Hills Cemetery. Walker Funeral Home serving the O'Reilly family. Share special messages with the family at www.HerbWalker.com.

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