Obituary of Jack M. Kelly

John M. “Jack” Kelly of Duxbury passed away on October 20, 2023, at the age of ninety-five.

Jack was born on April 6, 1928, in Rockland to John and Mary (Welch) Kelly.  He was a graduate of Rockland High where he excelled in multiple sports and held long standing records in track and field.  Jack proudly served his nation during the close of WWII and the Korean War as a noncommissioned officer in the U.S. Army.  He attended Vermont College and was a graduate of Burdett College. In the mid-1950’s, Jack met the love of his life, Mary Hayes, at an Elks Club dance, where they swept each other off their feet.  They were an impressive couple on the dance floor for 26 years, sharing their last dance at a family wedding in the spring of 1983, with Mary passing a few months later. Jack worked in the financial services industry, the  majority happily spent at Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. in Boston.  In 1989, Jack had the opportunity to help open BBH’s Luxembourg  office, which was a career highlight.  An impassioned Boston sports fan, Jack would often assist the coaches by calling plays from his comfy chair in the den.  In retirement, he could often be found at the local playing fields where he enjoyed cheering on his grandkids in their sporting endeavors.  As a 55-year resident of Duxbury, he was able to indulge another great passion which was his love for sailing, and felt there was no better place to do this than on beautiful Duxbury Bay. He was also an avid golfer with his play highlighted by two holes-in-one in his senior years. Jack enjoyed his daily hikes on the conservation trails in Duxbury where he enjoyed meeting fellow hikers and their canine companions. He was a member of Duxbury Legion Post 223, a volunteer for Cura VNA and a faithful member of Holy Family Church.

Jack is survived by his children, John Kelly of Plymouth, Nancy Kelly and her husband Matthew Benz of Kingston, Marialena Kelly of Port St. Lucie, Florida, and Mark Kelly and his wife Jennifer of Kingston. He was the proud grandfather of Maeve Benz of Vancouver, B.C., Jack Kelly of Charlotte, N.C., Matthew and Aidan Kelly of Kingston.  He is survived by his sisters-in-law Phyllis Hayes of Canton and Mary Kelly of Rockland, and many loving nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his siblings, Joseph Kelley, Gertrude Currie, Barbara Cody, and Edward Kelly.

Relatives and friends are invited to celebrate a Funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m. on Friday October 27 at Holy Family Church, Duxbury. Interment to follow at Mayflower Cemetery in Duxbury. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Jack can be made to Catholic Charities Boston (ccab.org) or the Trustees of Reservations (thetrustees.org)