Statement on the death of former Operation Lifesaver Board Chair Reilly McCarren

Joyce Rose, President of Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI) the national, nonprofit rail safety education organization, released the following statement today:

We are heartbroken to hear that Reilly McCarren, who served as chairman of Operation Lifesaver’s Board of Directors from 2007-2012, succumbed to cancer on April 26 in Kenilworth, IL at the age of 58.

Reilly was a strong advocate for Operation Lifesaver and its volunteers. In his role as board chair, he was instrumental in streamlining processes, while always keeping the organization focused on its mission and ensuring careful stewardship of resources.

Gerri Hall, OLI president from 1995 to 2006 said, “Reilly McCarren accomplished amazing things during his career in the railroad industry, and still found time to be an enthusiastic supporter and involved friend of Operation Lifesaver for many years.”

Helen Sramek, OLI president from 2007 to 2012 said “Reilly was truly one of the smartest and most dedicated people I have ever met, and always had great respect for Operation Lifesaver’s volunteers.”

On behalf of Operation Lifesaver, its Board of Directors, state program managers, and volunteers across the U.S., we extend our sympathies to Reilly McCarren’s family, and our deepest gratitude for his leadership of and contributions to the organization.