Obituary of John A. Kelly

CHESHIRE - John Aloysius Kelly Jr., passed away on April 20, 2016 at 96 years of age. Jack was born and raised in New Brunswick, NJ on October 29, 1919. He was the son of the late John Aloysius and Kathryn Rose Kelly. He leaves behind his beloved wife of 69 years - the "love of his life" - Margaret (DeVito) Kelly, his 3 children - Mary Margaret and her husband Bill Toller of Springfield, MA; Patricia and her husband Newell Porch of Torrington; and his son John Aloysius III and his wife Linda (George) Kelly of Cheshire. He leaves 7 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren to carry on his legacy of kindness and graciousness. Jack graduated from the University of Georgia in 1948 after interrupting his schooling with his service in the US Coast Guard in the Atlantic Theatre in WWII. He was a Northeast Region title winning basketball star. His love of the game continued in recent years while watching the UCONN Lady Huskies! His life was his family - he was a devoted husband and nurturing father, grandfather, and great grandfather who amazed everyone with his agility at 96 years to play on the floor with his great-grandchildren. The sparkle in his Irish Eyes, the jaunty bounce in his step, and his gregarious manner will live on in the hearts of his family. Arrangements – Funeral services with military honors will be held on Tuesday April 26, 2016 10:15 from the Alderson-Ford Funeral Home of Cheshire, 615 S. Main St. to the Church of the Epiphany for a Mass Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at the St. Bridget Cemetery. Visitation will be held Tuesday morning from 9 a.m. until the procession leaves for church. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, PO Box 810, Memphis, TN 38101.