Riordan Dr. Charles E.
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Dr. Charles E Riordan, age 83 passed away on Saturday July 17th surrounded by his loving family. He was born April 29, 1938 in the Bronx, NY to Charles and Julia (Bensel) Riordan.
Charlie grew up in Riverdale, NY and graduated from Regis High School in 1955, the College of the Holy Cross in 1959 and is a 1963 graduate of Harvard Medical School. He was trained as a psychiatrist at St. Vincent's in New York City and pioneered methadone maintenance as a treatment for opiate addiction. He was married to the former Pat Reardon in 1963 and in 1970 came to New Haven to work as a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Yale Medical School. Charlie moved the family to Madison, a town where he vacationed as a child. In 1987 he became Chairman of Psychiatry at the Hospital of St. Raphael and in 1988 was named Chief Medical Officer. He retired from St. Raphael's in 2007 but continued to work in private practice and for Connecticut Hospice. His long and distinguished record of service to Connecticut's healthcare community spanned 50 years. He was the author of dozens of published clinical research papers, recognized as a national expert on addiction psychiatry, testified before Congress and consulted for Major League Baseball.
Charlie is survived by his wife of 59 years Pat (Reardon) and their four children; Charlie and wife, Karen, of Newark, DE and their children Charles and Kimberly, James and his wife, Lynda, of Irvine, CA and their children Nikk, Rhys, Kate and Chance; Tracey (Riordan) Jacobson and her husband, Eric, of Branford, CT and their children Tucker and Rory; and John and his wife, Lisa, of Simsbury, CT and their children Aidan, Maeve and Brenna. Charlie was predeceased in death by a daughter Julie and is also survived by his brother Bob (Joani) of Pleasantville, NY, as well as Charlie and Pat's five nieces and nephews.
The family would like to extend their sincere appreciation to Dr. Peter Herbert for his 30-year friendship with Charlie and the extraordinary care he provided throughout his illness. The family is also grateful for the care, compassion and kindness shown by Sthembile Patience N. Mthembu, Charlie's live-in caretaker.
Charlie's family will receive family and friends during a visitation at Swan Funeral Home, 825 Boston Post Road Madison, CT on Wednesday, July 21st from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 AM on Thursday, July 22nd at St. Margaret's Church, 24 Academy Street in Madison. Burial will follow in West Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Charlie's name to the APT Foundation for drug treatment, research and recovery at 1 Long Wharf Drive, New Haven, CT 06511.