Dave Lillie’s entire life was devoted to his family and friends, 

along with the eternal belief that love and support 

can make the difference in every child’s life. 

He served as a professor at the University of 

North Carolina for 32 years, where he specialized in 

Early Childhood Education and Special Education. 

Dave trained many of that state's special education teachers, 

and was an ardent believer in the positive role 

that behavioral science and state-supported education 

can have in bettering people's lives. 

Dave Lillie passed away in October of 2014, 

but his love and passion lives on, not only with 

his beloved wife Patricia and their 4 children 

(Jane, Becky, Bruce and Jonathan)

 but here in the Bronx with the creation of the Riverdale Children’s Theatre.

With this in mind, in 2015 we created the 

David Lillie Professional Development Fund. 

This fund was established to help RCT students and Alumni 

to pursue professional careers in the Arts. Today the fund is 

helping prepare our college bound junior and seniors for 

their upcoming theatre auditions 

for colleges and universities across the country.