Sylvia Rivera Reilly was born on September 19, 1945 in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, the youngest of three daughters born to Carmen Carrion née Perez. She grew up in New York City, attending the prestigious Bronx High School of Science, and in 1966 earned her Bachelors of Science Degree in Psychology from Hunter College. A combination of intelligence and beauty, Sylvia won a collegiate beauty contest while attending Hunter. Professionally, she became a systems analyst and computer programmer, starting her career with IBM. She later married James J. Reilly, with whom she co-founded American Computer Systems, Inc., a successful data processing consulting firm serving numerous Fortune 500 companies. She and her husband settled in Fort Lauderdale, and after going into semi-retirement in the 1990s she continued her entrepreneurial pursuits, managing their company and personal investments. She was also a past president of the Art & Culture Center of Hollywood Florida. On Thursday, November 15, 2012, Sylvia passed away peacefully at the age of 67. She was predeceased by her step father Antonio P. Carrion 2008. Sylvia is survived by her loving husband James, her mother Carmen Carrion, her elder sisters Marie Julio Orozco and Lydia Richard Kalb, and her younger brothers Tony Evelyn Carrion and Jeffrey Janet Carrion. She was much beloved by her family and many friends, and will be deeply missed. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 20, 2012, from 2-4 p.m. & 7-9 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 7:30 p.m. at Boyd-Panciera Hollywood Boulevard Chapel. Funeral Mass will be on Wednesday, 11:00 a.m. at Nativity Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Lauderdale Memorial Park Cemetery.
© 2026 Boyd Panciera. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
William Reilly (Clark NJ USA)
November 17, 2012, 12:00 am
Jim,
Words can’t express how saddened we are to hear of your loss,please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you during this time of sorrow.
Love Bill, Pat and family
Rob & Rose Bychowski (Sunrise FL usa)
November 17, 2012, 12:00 am
Dear sweet Syl, You will always remain in our lives and in our hearts. No matter how bad you felt, you always managed to smile and make us feel special.
You blessed our lives with 2 of the most loving doggies.We are eternally greatful and blessed to have you as our friend.You are in the arms of our Lord now. Wait..till we see you again. Don’t forget to have the coffee waiting for us. Love Forever, Rob & Rose
Edward Reilly (Union NJ USA)
November 19, 2012, 12:00 am
Jim,
Our thoughts and prayers our
with you.
Ed Sue and Family
Dawn V. Martin, Esquire (Springfield VA USA)
November 19, 2012, 12:00 am
I am sending love to the Carrion-Rivera family, especially Mary, who should never have had a child leave her this way. I remember Sylvia as young, beautiful, smart and ambitious, funny. She had the world at her feet. The bio provides her professional accomplishments and provides objective info, but she had a bigger than life fun-loving side too. My most vivid memories of her are singing with the family on New Years’Eve. “Si no me dan un beber, lloro…” “if they don’t give me a drink, I’ll cry”. We were all having so much fun. There is also a story about her role regarding a sauna that I can’t tell here, but I smile when I think of it. Although I had not seen Sylvia in 30 years, we were family once and I will remember her that way. I regret that I cannot make the funeral, but my own mother is in the hospital and needs me here.
James Smith (New York NY United States)
November 20, 2012, 12:00 am
God Bless you Sylvia, may the peace and power of forever continue to hold and guide you.
Paula, Ernie & Tyler Watts (Ft Lauderdale FL U.S.A.)
November 26, 2012, 12:00 am
Jim:
It’s hard to imagine Sylvia gone, but we know she lived a full and happy life. We loved hearing about all your escapades. You both became part of our family and made a big impact on our lives. We are blessed we got to spend lots of fun times together.
It all came about from Sylvia’s kind and generous offer to look after Tyler. That we will cherish forever and how special she was.
jean and jackie hodgson (FL United Kingdom)
November 26, 2012, 12:00 am
Although we have only known Sylvia a few years, from the first meeting we felt very close, she was so easy to respond to, it was as though we had been friends for years,
Each time we came across the pond to visit Paula we looked forward to catching up with Sylvia and Jim.
As grandparents, living in the U.K., we shall be forever grateful that Sylvia was so involved in Tyler`s young years. She had so much patience, teaching, reading and playing with him, and we know he loves her as much as she loved him.
We shall miss her laughter and wit. Always cheerful, despite her recent illnesses, which is something we both admired her for.
Sylvia, you were an example of how people should behave, and we are better people through knowing you.
With all our love Jeannie and Jackie xx