February 27, 1954 – December 8, 2025

Please join us in celebrating the life of Corbett Russell Giles Riley. Corbett passed away at the age of 71 from a sudden and very brief battle with pancreatic cancer.

Corbett was born and raised in Huntington, New York with his father Charles (Chase) Vail Riley, mother Kathryn Heney Riley, big brother Chase and big sister Cass. Corbett had fond memories of his childhood and was very close to his family. He was a beloved husband to his wife Wendy of 40 years, father to his son Travis Riley (Sienna), his daughter Katie Vasquez (Chase), grandfather to Vinny Vasquez and best friends with at least 1,000 people!

After completing his college degree in health sciences, he hopped on a plane and flew to California after securing a job as a bartender in Yosemite Valley. This is where he met his wife Wendy who was also bartending alongside him… and so the adventures began. In their first few years of marriage, Corbett was working towards his doctorate in chiropractic. After graduating and having their first born, Travis, they moved to where they knew it would be the perfect playground to satisfy their thirst for the outdoors. They landed in Nevada City where they have lived for 36 years.

Corbett was our angel, a kind, loving, giving and VERY FUNNY human being. He rooted for the underdog. He lived to make others happy and to feel good. He cared deeply for everyone he knew. He would enter a room with his electric smile and tune right into the one who might have had a bad day, so he could tell them a joke or two or ten until they too were smiling.

He was a chiropractor for this community for decades and embraced every one of his patients like they were family. He brought humor and play into his practice as that was one of his healing superpowers, along with his genuine love toward those he put his hands on.

He was a family man first and foremost and the love amongst his family was what he cherished most in life. From the tea parties he would set up for his little girl, to coaching the little league team for his little boy, and all the countless hours they spent as a family on the slopes at Sugar Bowl, he was always there for them. He and his wife Wendy built their life together around one adventure after the next calling each day “The Best Day Ever” and he made sure of it. They were so deeply in love with one another and never took that for granted. They were best friends and playmates and tried not to take it all too seriously.

Corbett said so often that if he left this earthly place today, he was grateful for the happy and fulfilled life he had. He wants you to laugh with him and not cry for him.

Cheers to Dr. Corbett Riley!

There will be a Celebration of Life for Corbett on Saturday January 3rd from 1:00-4:00 p.m. at The Miners Foundry in Nevada City.

Corbett would want everyone in casual, comfortable attire (even a kilt!)