John D. Kelley

Retired City Project Coordinator

Member, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War

Native Staten Islander John D. (Jack) Kelley, of Oakwood Heights, a retired Project Coordinator for the City, passed away Dec. 23, 2017.

Born in Castleton Corners, he lived there until moving to Oakwood Heights in 2002. He graduated from Curtis High School where he was awarded the major athletic letter for track and was a reporter for the Curtis Log student newspaper. He attended Wagner College and Pratt Institute, Brooklyn.

He entered city service in 1959 as a Jr. Civil Engineer and was promoted to Project Coordinator. He retired in 1985 from the Dept. of General Services, Bureau of Building Design.

Mr. Kelley enlisted in 1948 in a Field Artillery Battalion, 42nd Division, NY Army National Guard, attaining the rank of 1st Lieutenant and honorably discharged in 1954.

Mr. Kelley was an avid baseball fan. In his youth he played sandlot games in the Police Athletic League. He also enjoyed Jersey Shore vacations, family gatherings, and listening to talk radio. He delighted in the achievements of all his children and grandchildren. He appreciated researching the Civil War, especially his family history regarding Staten Island. His great grandfather, Robert A. Kelley of West Brighton, enlisted at age 17 in the NY 79th Regiment (Highlanders) at the start of the Civil War.

His wife of 44 years, Kathleen, died in 1997 and a grandson, Daniel Jr. died in 2010. John was a parishioner of St. Teresa’s R. C. Church for 60 years, serving as a lector and a volunteer on various committees during the drives to build the new church and school and was a member of the Holy Name Society.

In recent years he was a parishioner of St. Charles R.C. Church and a member of the Knights of Columbus. He is survived by his sons Kevin, Neil and Daniel, daughter Sharon McClenin, son-in-law Thomas, daughters-in-law Rosa and Irene, grandchildren Alexander, Caroline, Thomas, Michele, Timothy and John, and great grandchildren Danielle and Aria.