Tom Reilly, 67; Journalism Educator, Historian

Tom Reilly, former Cal State Northridge journalism professor and chairman credited with rebuilding his department after the destructive 1994 earthquake, has died. He was 67.

Reilly, an authority on the Mexican-American War and journalism history, died Tuesday at his home in Burbank of prostate cancer.

A former reporter and editor at the Van Nuys News, forerunner of the Daily News, Reilly taught reporting, writing and mass communications at Cal State Northridge from 1969 to 2001.

He headed the journalism department from 1981 to 1985 and from 1990 to 1998.

Cynthia Rawitch, who succeeded him as journalism chair, called Reilly “the backbone of this department.”

She praised him for rebuilding it “physically, emotionally and academically” after the quake.

Reilly wrote numerous articles on journalistic history and the Mexican-American War of 1846-48. He also was the founding editor of the academic journal Journalism History in 1974 and stayed on as editor until 1985.

He had recently been working on a book about the role of the news media in the Mexican-American War.

Reilly traveled and lectured on journalism regularly in China and India, beginning with a stint in the Peace Corps in the mid-1960s, when he worked with mass communications in Bombay’s family planning department.

Reilly, a native of New Jersey who held a doctorate in mass communications from the University of Minnesota, is survived by his mother, Helen.

A memorial service is pending. Donations can be sent to the Tom Reilly Journalism Student Projects Fund in care of Cal State Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge 91330.