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John Kelly
John “Jack” A. Kelly of Sag Harbor died in his apartment in Portland, Maine, on May 7. He was 92.
Mr. Kelly was born in Brooklyn on July 20, 1927, the son of John and Joanne (Flaherty) Kelly. He was the third of four children.
Jack lived a full life, his family said. He was a dedicated Grandad, who was always there to pick up his grandchildren from the bus stop or from school, they recounted.
He was driving up until this past December. He worked out three times a week until the age of 91.
He attended Mass every day. He was a Eucharistic minister and a volunteer who counted money for the church.
He also did his own shopping and cooking up until six months before his death. He was a kind man who was positive, caring and always quick with a “dad” joke, according to his family.
He entered the U.S. Navy in 1945 as a high school student. He was a Fireman, First Class V6 USNR.
Following the Navy, he entered the seminary, which he attended for seven years.
After changing his course, he decided to go into education. He received a diploma from Hofstra University in education. He would go on to become a guidance counselor, then a math teacher and finally an assistant principal of West Hollow Junior High in Dix Hills. He worked in the education field for 27 years before retiring.
He married Marion Rita (nee Hefferon) on March 21, 1970. They lived in West Islip, until moving to Southampton. They were married for 32 years before her death in 2002.
He then lived with his daughter Marion, her husband, Chris, and their three children for the past 17 years in both Southampton and Sag Harbor. He recently moved to Portland to be near his daughter Cara and her family. He enjoyed getting to see “Maine’’ grandchildren, but did not like the cold.
He is survived by his daughters, Annmarie Kelly of New York, Marion Tanner of Sag Harbor and her husband Chris, Cara Colgan of Portland, Maine, and her husband Patrick.
He was also survived by eight grandchildren, Stefani Kiefer, John Ryan Gillespie, Ethan Tanner, Quinn Tanner, Gillian “Gigi” Tanner, Cassius Colgan, Mavis Colgan and Magnus Colgan. He was also survived by his sister Eunice Valentine Donlan of New Jersey and her husband Frank; as well as several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
Mr. Kelly was predeceased by his brother Martin Kelly and sister Joan Kelly.
A small Mass was held on Monday, May 11, in Portland. A Celebration of Life will be held once the requirement of social distancing related to the current pandemic has passed.
Memorial donations in Mr. Kelly’s name can be made to Big Brother Big Sister of Long Island, 145 Sycamore Ave., Islandia, NY 11749, or at www.bbbsli.org; or the Southern Maine Big Brother Big Sisters, 625 Main Street, Westbrook, ME 04092, or at www.SoMeBigs.org.
To share memories of Mr. Kelly or to leave the family an online condolence, please visit www.athutchins.com.
on May 15, 2020