John F. Kelly
September 4, 1942 to July 4, 2025
For John Kelly, service to others was central to how he interacted in the world. No matter who he encountered, he was determined to find something he could like about the person. He understood how much each of us needs love, respect, and support. Perhaps his great sensitivity to others came from his having been given up for adoption by his birth mother. When she left him with the Kelly’s who later adopted him, she said she was going to get him an ice cream cone, but she never returned.
In his early years, he lived with James Kelly and Bridget Kelly in South Boston, MA. After graduating high school, he enlisted in the Air Force and served for five years.
He attended Northeastern University in Boston, MA and subsequently built a career at Arthur D. Little, heading their Graphics and Printing department of thirty staff who admired him.
At St. Ceclia’s Catholic Church in Boston, he served at Masses helping people receive Holy Communion, and was instrumental in establishing the Rainbow Ministry, which welcomes and celebrates the LGBTQ+ community. John was always seeing what he could do to help. He was a President of GBBC (Greater Boston Business Community) and an active contributor. When he was part of the retirement community at Fenno House, he organized yard sales, auctions, fund raisers, Halloween parties and all sorts of events to liven up the place.
He was a loyal, generous, and thoughtful friend to so many and how he loved his Chloe (Apricot toy poodle) and other pets.
A great and happy shock in his life was being discovered and warmly embraced by his half-sisters, Bernice Navin, Florida and Patricia and Peter Brun, of Burlington and his niece, Sarah Buhler of Tewksbury, and his nephew Alan Brun of Salem. This was the treat, the ice cream cone, promised and the unexpected union of two parts of his life.
Visitation at the William J. Gormley Funeral Home, 2055 Centre St., West Roxbury, MA on Thursday, July 10, 2025 at 9:30 AM followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Cecilia’s Roman Catholic Church, 18 Belvidere St., Boston, MA 02115 at 11:30 AM. Interment Forest Hills Cemetery, 95 Forest Hills Ave., Boston, MA 02130. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of John to St. Cecilia’s at www.stceciliaboston.org. For guestbook gormleyfuneral.com.