Thomas F. Kelly

Known simply as “TK” to his many friends, Dad was born on February 2nd, 1930 to William and Carol (Cullen) Kelly in Rochester, NY. Tom was the third of 4 children. His siblings included Jack, Carol and David Kelly.

Growing up in an Irish Catholic home, Tom was an Alter Server for many years. He went to Thomas Aquinas High School in Rochester and played on the school’s varsity basketball team. From there, he enrolled at Rochester Institute of Technology, earning an Associates’ Degree in Merchandising and Retailing.

After graduating from RIT, Tom joined the US Navy and served for four years, from 1951 to 1955, on the USS Forrest Royal DD 872 as a 2nd Class Petty Officer during the Korean War. He was responsible for sonar and depth chargers. He was very proud of his Navy service and the seamen he sailed with, recounting many stories of his travel around the world.

During his career in the Navy, Tom met and fell in love with Claire Augusta (Capelotti) Kelly, then of South Boston, formerly of Brockton, MA. Tom and Claire were married on July 29th, 1954, a little more than a year before his honorable discharge from the Navy.

Tom, Claire and their family resided in Abington, Lawrence and Chelmsford before moving back to Rochester (Henrietta) NY for two years, then on to Randallstown, MD in 1968. In 1977, the Kelly’s moved to Nashua, NH for a year, then to Plymouth, MA where they resided until Tom retired from the food service industry.

Tom was a salesman for Sunshine, Burry Biscuit and the Quaker Oats company before becoming a Sales Manager for Keebler Cookie and then PYA Monarch of Everett, MA. Upon retirement, Tom and Claire moved to North Fort Meyers, FL where Tom resided until shortly after Claire passed away in 2010. Tom’s last two years were being dutifully cared for by his daughter Geri Kelly in Dutton, VA.

Tom enjoyed spending time mostly with his family and friends. He was a person who easily engaged in conversation with anyone he came in contact with. He was a hard, dedicated worker from his childhood years through his retirement, making many, many friends along the way. Tom enjoyed sports and especially golf. He loved the Syracuse Nats and Rochester Royals early in life, and then became a big fan of the Celtics and Red Sox, though his heart stayed with the St. Louis Cardinals due to their Royals affiliation. Golf however was Tom’s passion.

Tom is survived by three daughters: Jacqueline (Kelly) Barbera and her husband and longtime son in-law David of Chelmsford, MA; Linda J. Kelly of Hyannis, MA and Geri C. Kelly of Dutton, VA and two son’s: Thomas C. Kelly and his wife Lynn of Yarmouth, MA; J. Mark Kelly and his wife Marlene of Cotuit, MA.

Tom is also survived by 6 Grandchildren: Keliann, Karen Ann, J. Tyler, Liam, Sean and Michael. He is also survived by 7 Great Grandchildren: Anna, Summer, Thomas, Rhys, Kate, Lyra and Clive. He is also survived by his brother in-law, William Farrell and his sisters’ in-law Barbara Kelly and Joyce (Kelly) Elsbury and 17 nieces and nephews.

Tom will join his beloved wife Claire in eternity at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, MA in a private ceremony to be held in April or May. Family members and friends will be notified at a later time. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to American Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)

"So long pal."