I echo Joel Davel's sentiments, as my interactions with Dave and his company were always a pleasure. It was very easy to work with him -our business' close proximity and his welcoming open shop style made it feel more like a partnership. His genuine nature, integrity and likeability will be missed. What a loss and what a surprise to learn of his passing. 

Dave was the kind of person who treated workers like people and allowed clients to develop trusting relationships at his former company. We'll miss him as an advisor and friend.

The question I've been asking myself for the past week has been how to write about the passing of an appreciated part of the Buchla community, a friend and colleague that few heard of, Dave Reilly. Dave was a person with whom my email program counts over 2000 correspondences going back over 15 years, including hundreds of pictures of panels and components. 

Dave Reilly was one of the unsung heroes of Buchla electronic music module production. I’m not exactly sure what the quality of Dave is that both Don Buchla and I enjoyed, but there was a mutual appreciation for the work and how it got done. Even when mistakes were made by his company or myself, I was never afraid to make or get that call, and every conversation was an enjoyable one. Dave often put our conversations on speaker phone so the workers were in on the conversations. And though were trying to solve technical problems, our typical banter often made them laugh. 
I met Dave at a PCB conference around 2004 and introduced him to Don as someone to handle our increased PCB assembly. It was a good match. Don was tough on vendors, especially over the phone, and he burned more than a few bridges arguing over quality or pricing. But Dave acted more like a collaborator, and he and Don built a friendship. He gained Don's trust and respect and even came up for Don's oyster parties on occasion. It meant we kept all the work in Northern California.  I'll miss him. His body failed him far too soon.

He lightened the load and make the tedious parts of our PCBA jobs enjoyable. And though mortality reminds us that life is not about work accomplishments, it's also not about how we relax either. Our work relationships can be meaningful.  

I send love and my most sincere condolences to his wife Loretta and daughter Melanie. -Joel Davel

The Paul Mortuary

David Reilly

immediate need

Death has occurred or is near

plan ahead

Pre-plan a funeral or cremation

Plan a Funeral or Cremation Default Desktop

Find Obituaries and Services

Send Flowers

sympathy and etiquette

grief library

celebrations of life

What to Say When Someone Dies

Show Your Support

Sympathy and Grief

obituary

services

memories

Obit Detail

In the care of

share to facebook

share by email

share link

Share Obituary

ideas and resources

Sympathy and Grief Mobile

OBITUARY

David P. Reilly

January 15, 1955 – December 26, 2021

The Paul Mortuary

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services