Born and raised in Quincy, she was a graduate of St. Ann Elementary School and a 1964 graduate of Archbishop Williams High School in Braintree. She was a graduate of Maryville College in St. Louis and received her master’s degree in public administration from Suffolk University in 1976.

She moved to Milton eight years ago after living the previous 15 years in San Diego.

A well-known retired educator and administrator, she began her career in 1970 as a social studies teacher at Quincy High School and later became Quincy’s first community school coordinator.

In 1981, she relocated to San Diego to accept a position as assistant dean, and director of career services and placement, for the California Western School of Law. Miss Riley also held positions in public affairs at the San Diego Housing Commission.

An avid sailing enthusiast, she served as the director of development and public affairs for America 3 Foundation. Her service culminated in 1992 with a successful defense of the America’s Cup for the United States. She was a flag member of the San Diego Yacht Club for 27 years.

Prior to returning to Boston in 1996, she served as a development officer for the Network of the Sacred Heart Schools. She was a devoted volunteer, serving on civic boards in San Diego and Boston that place an emphasis on women and children. She worked in various Boston area public school systems. Her last position was with Habitat for Humanity in Braintree.

On March 26, she was inducted into the Archbishop Williams High School Hall of Fame for her contribution to women’s athletics as a co-captain of the school’s first women’s basketball team in 1963 and 1964.

Daughter of the late Stephen J. Riley and Helen G. (Kearney) Riley, she is survived by her siblings, Kathleen R. Tisor, of San Marcos, Calif., Kevin S. Riley and his wife, Susan, of Hingham, Nancy R. Kriz and her husband, Edward, of Newport Beach, Calif., Stephen J. Riley III, of Falmouth, and Edward G. Riley II, of Madison, Conn.; her nephews and nieces, Jeffrey Tisor, Maryjo Tisor, Kate O’Leary, Terrence Riley, Victoria Riley, Mera Kriz, Carolyn Siegal, Patricia Seyffert, Kathleen Fitzgerald, Erin Riley and Meghan Riley; three grandnieces; and many cousins.

She was the sister-in-law of the late Bruce Tisor. A funeral Mass was celebrated in St. Agatha Church on Nov. 5.

Donations may be made to the Mary Jo Riley Scholarship Fund, c/o Archbishop Williams High School, 40 Independence Avenue, Braintree, MA 02184.