EDITORIAL:An admirable tenure comes to an end

For many of us in the top management rungs of the Daily Pilot, we can’t remember a time when Tim Riley wasn’t the fire chief of Newport Beach.

No offense to new Chief Steve Lewis, who we look forward to getting to know, but the idea that Riley isn’t going to be biggest cheese in the firehouse any longer seems almost unfathomable.

For the newspaper, Riley has always been fair, open and honest. When we needed information from him about fires and other emergencies, he provided it in a timely and professional manner.

Likewise, when the Fire Department needed to get information out to the public, we were there to help spread the word.

And when it came to running the city, which Riley, we know, has deep opinions about, we may not have agreed on every issue, but in the end, we have always been able to shake hands and respect each other’s stand.

That’s why we hate to see him go.

But all good things do come to an end, as they say, and this is certainly one of them.

Today and tonight, friends of the now former chief will be teeing off with him and toasting him in a fond farewell.

But before that happens, we wanted to give our very best to the man who has done so much to provide Newport Beach residents with the very best in fire protection and emergency medical care.

Ask Chief Riley to tell you about the fire service that he spent 31 years in, and he’ll tell you about the brotherhood of the fire fraternity and the family it creates and how fortunate he felt to be a part of that his entire life.

Ask Chief Riley to tell you why his Newport Beach team is so good at what it does, and he’ll give you a point-by-point presentation on the intricacies of the fire service.

He’s a great ambassador for the noble profession he has served so admirably.

That’s why he has been honored so much.

Riley, who followed his father into the fire service, started his career in Anaheim in 1975, staying there until 1992, when he arrived in Newport Beach and took the chief job.

Since then, the number of people who can thank Chief Riley for saving their house or business from fire, or even saving their very lives, are too numerous to mention here.

And the number of his accomplishments and honors have stacked up as well. Here are just a few.

As you can see, Riley has kept busy these past 14 years. We always knew that.

It’s going to be a sad day today as we wish the chief bon voyage. But we also know it’s a happy day for him and his wife, Deanna, as they enter this new age of retirement in Palm Springs, one that promises well-deserved leisure time and memorable moments with good friends and of course, plenty of time on the links.

So long, Chief Riley. We wish you all the best. The city of Newport Beach and the Daily Pilot are much better because of you.