Gerard P. Kelly Sr., 92, passed away Oct. 2, 2022, at Mount Carmel East Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He lived in New Jersey for 90 years until he moved with his wife Maureen (Reilly) to Pickerington, Ohio, two years ago.
He was born Aug. 3, 1930, at home in Union City, the seventh of nine children of James Joseph Kelly and Catherine Lahiff Kelly. He was predeceased by both his parents in 1955. He was also predeceased by his brothers, James, Gabriel, John, Thomas, Francis (Mick) and Eugene; and sisters, Dorothy and Mary Reardon.
He attended St. Michael’s Grammar and High School in Union City, graduating in the Class of 1948.
He began singing in St. Michael’s Monastery Church as a soloist boy soprano. He continued singing in church choirs for six decades. He enjoyed being the soloist at St. Michael’s Church, West End, Long Branch, for Saturday Mass when Msgr. Paul F. Bradley was pastor, singing traditional hymns in English and Latin, always ending with “God Bless America” in his booming Irish tenor voice.
Gerry served in the U.S. Army in Germany and was honorably discharged. While living in Bloomingdale, he was active as a coach in the Tri-Boro Little League where he helped institute a mandatory three innings per game for every player. He worked at American Cyanamid in Wayne, then at Hoffmann-La Roche in Nutley in the Management Information Systems department. As a systems analyst he wrote technical documentation, managed projects and became a computer security expert. He also was an independent consultant at AT&T and Dun and Bradstreet. In 1987 he established Kelly Building Maintenance, Inc., and finally retired last year. It is a tribute to him that his strong work ethic has passed on to his sons.
Gerry and Maureen married in 1987 and moved to Sea Bright, where his sister Mary and brothers Gabe and Tommy lived. During that time, they also had a farm in Sweet Springs, West Virginia, where they raised geese and guinea fowl. They moved to Tinton Falls in 1999, where Gerry was happy to feed all the wildlife on their property daily, especially the birds and deer.
Gerry loved and was so proud of his family and his 100% Irish roots. He usually had several pet dogs, and an occasional cat, at a time. He had a lifelong love/hate relationship with Notre Dame football and the NY Yankees, Giants, and Rangers, depending on the scoreboard. He was a talented pool player, ready for any challenge at a party. He regularly recycled his jokes. At Monmouth Park, he always bet on the gray horse.
Gerry will be missed by family and friends whom he treasured during his many years among them.
In addition to Maureen, his beloved wife of 35 years, Gerry is survived by his four cherished sons, Gerard Kelly Jr. and his wife Roni, Kevin Kelly and his partner Glenda Verdonik, Brian Kelly and his partner Jen Walsh, and Jude Coelho and his wife Amy. He is also survived by six adoring grandchildren; he was Grandpa to John, Maren and AJ Kelly, and PopPop to Phoenix, Coraline, and Holden Coelho. He is also survived by many loving and caring nieces and nephews whose company he truly enjoyed. He is deeply missed by his and Maureen’s dog Snoopy, who was his constant companion.
A funeral Mass was held Oct. 7 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Pickerington, Ohio. A memorial Mass will be held at Holy Cross Church, Rumson, at a future date.
In lieu of flowers, please donate in Gerry’s memory to your favorite animal shelter or rescue.
The article originally appeared in the November 10 – 16, 2022 print edition of The Two River Times.
