Obituary for Francis Joseph "Bud" Kelly
Francis Joseph (Bud) Kelly, Jr., 93, of Simsbury, CT, beloved husband of 58 years to the late Eunice (McGinn) Kelly died on Sunday, January 22, 2023.
He was born December 29, 1929 in Hartford, CT, son of the late Francis Joseph and Nell (Pritchard) Kelly. He was predeceased by his sister Merlyn (Riley) and brother Tom. He fondly remembered summers spent camping at Hammonasset Beach with his family, developing a love of sun and sea.
He served in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany as a member of the 43rd Division, 169 Infantry Regiment being honorably discharged in 1952. He then graduated from St. Lawrence University with a bachelor’s degree in Economics, started a 25-year career at Aetna Insurance Company; and most importantly met and was smitten with Eunice McGinn. They both claimed it was love at first sight and married in 1955.
Over the next fourteen years with Aetna they moved to Chicago, IL, New Brunswick, NJ, Yarmouth, ME, Scotch Plains, NJ and Reading, PA. They also gave birth to three children, Francis, Tim, and Chris.
In 1969 Bud had the opportunity to move back to Connecticut to work in Aetna’s home office. They settled in Simsbury, a town he had developed a love for when had helped his dad tend their “victory garden” on a family friend’s property. Much of Bud’s last years were at 1 West Street, where he and Eunice had embraced a new and wonderful community of friends.
Bud and Eunice also loved Block Island, where they built a house with sweeping views of cow pastures and New Harbor. They summered there when he retired from Orion Capital where he finished his career as Vice President for Government Relations. Many wonderful memories were created with family trips to the island. Bud especially enjoyed island activities with his grandchildren Katie, Jay, Whitney and Brenna.
Over the years Bud devoted time coaching his sons’ football and baseball teams, as a member of the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Boy Scouts, working with the Friends of Simsbury Library, and as a 27-year member of the Public Building Committee. Most special to him in his later years was his relationship with the St. Mary’s community where he was a lecturer, a eucharistic minister, and member of the Stephen Ministry.
Bud loved to help his children maintain their lawns and homes. He also enjoyed walking, playing tennis and pickleball, and driving his 1967 red Camaro convertible around town. He also enjoyed attending sporting events.
He leaves his three sons, Francis Joseph Kelly, III, his wife Heather of Weston, MA and their children, Whitney Kelly of Stowe, VT, and Francis Joseph Kelly, IV and wife Dr. Laura Dean of Winchester, MA.; Timothy Kelly, his wife Susie of Corvallis, OR and their daughter, Katie Kelly and partner Heather Resko of Seattle, WA; Christopher Kelly, his wife Sharon of Simsbury, CT and their daughter Brenna Kelly, of Brighton, MA; his great grandchildren, Declan Francis Kelly and Meredith Kelly and several nieces and nephews.
Friends may call at the Vincent Funeral Home, 880 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury, CT on Monday, January 30th from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, January 31st, 10:30 AM at St. Mary’s Church, 942 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury, CT. Burial with military honors will be in Simsbury Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Friends of Simsbury Library, P. O. Box 282, Simsbury, CT 06070. Please visit Bud’s “Book of Memories” at www.vincentfuneralhome.com for online tributes.
He was born December 29, 1929 in Hartford, CT, son of the late Francis Joseph and Nell (Pritchard) Kelly. He was predeceased by his sister Merlyn (Riley) and brother Tom. He fondly remembered summers spent camping at Hammonasset Beach with his family, developing a love of sun and sea.
He served in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany as a member of the 43rd Division, 169 Infantry Regiment being honorably discharged in 1952. He then graduated from St. Lawrence University with a bachelor’s degree in Economics, started a 25-year career at Aetna Insurance Company; and most importantly met and was smitten with Eunice McGinn. They both claimed it was love at first sight and married in 1955.
Over the next fourteen years with Aetna they moved to Chicago, IL, New Brunswick, NJ, Yarmouth, ME, Scotch Plains, NJ and Reading, PA. They also gave birth to three children, Francis, Tim, and Chris.
In 1969 Bud had the opportunity to move back to Connecticut to work in Aetna’s home office. They settled in Simsbury, a town he had developed a love for when had helped his dad tend their “victory garden” on a family friend’s property. Much of Bud’s last years were at 1 West Street, where he and Eunice had embraced a new and wonderful community of friends.
Bud and Eunice also loved Block Island, where they built a house with sweeping views of cow pastures and New Harbor. They summered there when he retired from Orion Capital where he finished his career as Vice President for Government Relations. Many wonderful memories were created with family trips to the island. Bud especially enjoyed island activities with his grandchildren Katie, Jay, Whitney and Brenna.
Over the years Bud devoted time coaching his sons’ football and baseball teams, as a member of the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Boy Scouts, working with the Friends of Simsbury Library, and as a 27-year member of the Public Building Committee. Most special to him in his later years was his relationship with the St. Mary’s community where he was a lecturer, a eucharistic minister, and member of the Stephen Ministry.
Bud loved to help his children maintain their lawns and homes. He also enjoyed walking, playing tennis and pickleball, and driving his 1967 red Camaro convertible around town. He also enjoyed attending sporting events.
He leaves his three sons, Francis Joseph Kelly, III, his wife Heather of Weston, MA and their children, Whitney Kelly of Stowe, VT, and Francis Joseph Kelly, IV and wife Dr. Laura Dean of Winchester, MA.; Timothy Kelly, his wife Susie of Corvallis, OR and their daughter, Katie Kelly and partner Heather Resko of Seattle, WA; Christopher Kelly, his wife Sharon of Simsbury, CT and their daughter Brenna Kelly, of Brighton, MA; his great grandchildren, Declan Francis Kelly and Meredith Kelly and several nieces and nephews.
Friends may call at the Vincent Funeral Home, 880 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury, CT on Monday, January 30th from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, January 31st, 10:30 AM at St. Mary’s Church, 942 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury, CT. Burial with military honors will be in Simsbury Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Friends of Simsbury Library, P. O. Box 282, Simsbury, CT 06070. Please visit Bud’s “Book of Memories” at www.vincentfuneralhome.com for online tributes.