Winston "Toby" Riley III

Winston “Toby” Riley III, of Medford Leas in Medford, NJ, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 4th, 2023.  He was 91 years old. Born in Indianapolis, IN, and raised in Washington DC and Puerto Rico, he is the son of the late Oscar Winston Riley Jr. and Vera Gertrude Stern Blackstone Riley and has enjoyed living at Medford Leas for the past twenty six years.   

He is the Beloved Father of Jennifer Riley-Akers and her husband Jaime Riley-Akers of San Luis Obispo, CA, Pamela Riley of Fredericksburg, VA, Winston “Rex” Riley IV and his wife Carol Lee Cantwell Riley of Westminster, MD.  He grew up with his late sister Marylyn Blackstone Wood, and is survived by Jonda Loiuse McFarlane and many cherished nieces and nephews. He is also survived by Janet Neva Moles, his former wife and Sue Thorpe, his longtime partner. As well as five grandchildren: Caleb Riley Mulligan, Aubrey Jagger Riley, Winston “Ryan” Riley V, Brandon Charles Riley, Jessica Anjeanette Riley. 

Due to his wanderlust, he moved his young family to live in London England and then Geneva Switzerland while raising his family primarily in Potomac MD. He proudly counted the number of countries that he hadn’t yet visited rather than those he had explored.  

He developed an interest in computer technologies from the early days of computing. He worked in computers for his entire career, founding the Riley Systems Corporation, and this fascination continued throughout his retirement. He loved to bring computer technologies to developing countries and teach the people there how to use them. He readily accepted UN assignments that allowed him to travel to many remote countries that others were reluctant to go to. He even went to Burning Man twice!  

He became a Quaker at Swarthmore College and was a founding member of Langley Hill Monthly Meeting where he served as its clerk several times. He volunteered at a domestic violence center to assist those in immediate need as well as leading Alternatives to Violence trainings in prisons throughout the country due to his stance on nonviolence. 

He served in the Korean war, and while stationed in Paris, he developed a love for riding his trademark favorite red Vespa. He loved a good crossword puzzle, was the proud owner of Italian greyhound dogs and always had a red nose and a beanie baby in his pocket so he could entertain any children in his path. 

The Alternative to Violence Project (AVP) is a volunteer organization dedicated to reducing violence in our lives. He volunteered over twenty years and even became the AVP New Jersey Coordinator. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to AVP NEw Jersey at avpnj.org/support-us. Please feel free to observe a moment of silence to honor his legacy and memory.

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A memorial in his honor will be held on on: Sunday, October 22nd 1pm to 3pm Medford Friends Quaker Meeting 14 Union St, Medford, NJ 08055

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