Bartholomew Joseph Kelly, 84, of East Hartford passed away peacefully at home Saturday, December 19, 2020 surrounded by his family. Born in Hartford on April 30, 1936 to the late Bartholomew and Mary (Walsh) Kelly, Bart was raised in the city, a proud alum of Weaver High. Shortly after graduation, he was drafted into the United States Army and served in Germany. He returned to his job at G Fox where he met the love of his life, Mary Gleason. Bart and Mary celebrated their 57th anniversary in November.
He worked for 30 years at Connecticut Dispensing in West Hartford, where he kept lifelong friendships with the LaPlantes, Narines and Clinchs.
In his retirement, Bart lived for trips to Ireland with his family, and to “Ireland-west” Notre Dame, IN to catch a football game. He was a lifelong Red Sox, Giant, UConn and Notre Dame fan and enjoyed watching anything that had some sort of ball involved, failing that, a John Wayne movie would due.
Bart was known for his gentle, soft-spoken, easy-going nature that helped him earn the reputation as the ‘squirrel whisperer, holding daily court with the neighborhood squirrels, birds and, occasionally, skunks.
In addition to his wife, Bart leaves three children, his sons Chris of Hartford and Bart of Vernon, and a daughter Patricia Claire of Harwinton. He also leaves his twin sister Susan Ostrowski and her husband Emil of Glastonbury and his sister Kathleen Pasquale and her husband Joseph of Bowmansville, PA, and a dear sister-in-law, Margaret Turmelle of Simsbury. The glint in his eye betrayed his adoration for his grandsons, Nicolai Thomas Vanek of Waterville Valley, NH and Peter Kelly Vanek of Venice Beach, FL. He was preceded by his brother Eugene Daly and his sister Margaret McGovern.
Though the opportunities to get together became rare, Bart was happiest in the company of his family, including the Ostrowskis, Khoshneviss, Gleasons, Wertheims (including his Goddaughters Megan and Tracy), Dalys, Sheas and Sweezys, Lamenzos, Girouards and Browns (including his Godson William). He prayed for them all frequently at his home parish, St. Isaac Jogues.
The family wishes to express their deepest appreciation to the doctors and nurses at St. Francis Hospital during these complicated times and the entire staff of VNA of Vernon for their compassionate care during Bart’s final weeks.
Due to the current health pandemic, a Memorial Mass will be celebrated at a later date. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Bart’s name may be made to the CT Humane Society, 701 Russell Rd, Newington, CT 06111 or to a charity of the donor’s choice. The D’ESOPO-East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford has been entrusted with the care of the funeral arrangements. For on-line expressions of sympathy to the family please visit www.desopoeh.com.
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CT Humane Society701 Russell Road, Newington, Connecticut 06111
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