Leo Joseph Kelly

On Monday, June 29, 2020, Colonel Leo Joseph Kelly, USMC, Retired, of Falls Church, VA passed away peacefully due to complications from cancer. Leo Joseph Kelly was born in Quincy, MA on April 23, 1936 to Thomas Patrick Kelly and Anna Marie Moore Kelly. He grew up in the Boston suburb of Braintree and graduated from Archbishop Williams High School in 1953. He went on to receive his Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Stonehill College in 1957. He always said he won the “Billion Dollar Prize” when his soulmate, Margaret Ann “Peggy” Sullivan agreed to marry him. He had his first date with Peggy on January 1, 1960 (New Year’s Day) and fell immediately in love with her. They skated around a frozen lake, their arms around each other’s waist, singing Christmas songs. He counted his 48 years of marriage to Peggy, his four children, their spouses, and grandchildren among the greatest blessings in his life. Leo lived with passion and optimism as well as an unbelievable sense of humor that he shared with everyone around him. He valued his faith, his family, friends, dearly beloved Marine Corps and the Boston Red Sox above all else. He always had a kind word or encouraging thought for all those he met. Perhaps what will be missed the most is the way he managed to uplift the spirits of all those he encountered during his life. Throughout his life, Leo took special pride in being a United States Marine. Indeed, he met many of his closest friends based on his 40-year association with the Marine Corps. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on January 13, 1958 and served as a Communications Officer until he retired as a Colonel in 1985. During his active duty years, Leo completed two tours in Vietnam (1966 and 1969), served as the III MAF Liaison Officer at Subic Bay, Philippines, commanded two battalions, 2d Radio Battalion (1975-1977), and 8th Communications Battalion (1977-1979), and served with the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In 1982, he became the Director of Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, which became his last duty station. Affectionately called the “Mayor of HQMC,” he stayed at Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps through the remainder of his active duty career and transitioned to the civil service as a Senior Executive Service (SES) in the same position. He enjoyed taking care of the people he loved most: Marines, their families, and the civilians who supported “his” Marines. Leo retired from the SES on January 29, 2002, but remained “Always Faithful” to the Corps. In his retirement he enjoyed travelling the world with Peggy as well as spending time with his family and 12 grandchildren. He witnessed his first miracle in 2004 when the Boston Red Sox finally won the World Series and continued rooting for the Sox up until his last breath. Leo was predeceased by his wife of 48 years, Margaret Ann Kelly “Peggy” and is survived by their four children: Colleen Fergus (Tom) of Herndon, VA, Kathleen Tremblay (Gary) of Falls Church, VA, L. Kevin Kelly of Hinsdale, IL and John Kelly (Cathy) of Waxhaw, NC along with 12 grandchildren. In addition to his children and grandchildren, Leo is also survived by one brother, Lawrence Kelly of Brockton, MA. He was predeceased by his siblings: Thomas Kelly, James Kelly, Gerald Kelly, Dorothy Kelly, and Eileen Kelly. There will be a visitation on Monday, August 3, 2020 at Murphy Funeral Homes in Falls Church (1102 W. Broad St) from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM and again from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Funeral Mass is set for Tuesday, August 4, 2020 at 11:00 AM at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 1427 W. Braddock Rd. Alexandria, VA. The funeral mass will be live-streamed via the following link which will be open at the start of the mass https://m.facebook.com/MurphyFallsChurch/?tsid=0.5784674907622411&source=result). Father Kelly will officiate. Due to COVID-19, masks will be required at both Murphy’s Funeral Homes and Blessed Sacrament. We also ask that you please practice social distancing. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial gifts be made to the Preston Tisch Brain Cancer Center at Duke, DUMC Box 3624, Durham, NC 27710.