Gerald L. “Jerry” Kelly

GERALD L. “JERRY” KELLY

HORNELL-Gerald L. “Jerry” Kelly, 68, of 272 Grand St., passed away Saturday afternoon (Dec. 6, 2008) at McAuley Manor in North Hornell.
Born in Hornell on May 8, 1940, he was the son of the late Donald C. and Eva Hibbard Kelly. On Sept. 11, 1965 he was married at St. Ignatius Loyola Church in Hornell to the former Carolyn Kuhn, who survives.
A life long resident of Hornell, Jerry was a graduate of Hornell High School, Class of 1958 and later received his LUTCF and CLTC. He served in the Army National Guard from 1963 to 1969 when he was honorably discharged as a Sergeant. He also served with the Naval Reserves from 1970 to 1974 when he was honorably discharged as a Petty Officer 3rd Class.
Jerry has been selling something since 1959. He started with the Hornell Wholesale Grocery Company continuing with the Utica Brewing Company and the Beechnut Baby Food. In 1973 he joined Prudential Insurance where he earned 16 regional business conferences and three President’s Citation Awards in his 35 years.
He was always proud of the fact that his father had struck out Babe Ruth three times in an exhibition games at the old Maple City Park. A devout Dodger fan, Jerry was a bat boy for the Hornell Dodgers of the PONY League in 1950 and 1951and played on Hornell’s Town Team throughout the 1960’s. He was instrumental in bringing the Dodgers back to Hornell in NCBL in 1994 as an original member of the Hornell Dodgers’ Board of Directors.
A member of the Hornell Rotary Club, he served as president from 1989-1990 and was awarded the Paul Harris Fellow in 1994. He was part of the Rotary fundraising effort to build the largest pavilion in Veteran’s Park at James Street. Jerry was also a member of the Hornell Elks Lodge No. 364, the Arthur H. Cunningham American Legion Post No. 440 in Hornell, the Hornell Council No. 243 Knights of Columbus and was a charter member of Hornell’s Sons of Ireland Division of The Ancient Order of Hibernians of America. He was a communicant of St. Ignatius Loyola Church and St. Ann’s Church of Our Lady of the Valley Parish. Jerry coached in Hornell’s Grasshopper League, Little League, Babe Ruth League and the YMCA Senior Biddy basketball.
He enjoyed playing golf and was a member of the Twin Hickory Golf Club and a former member of the Hornell Country Club where he won a couple club championships. He also played in several leagues and tournaments throughout the area.
Jerry was very proud of his grandkids’ accomplishments, his Irish heritage and was a fan of all things John Wayne and Frank Sinatra. In fact, “I Did it My Way”, best sums up the way Jerry lived his life.
His family includes his wife of 43 years, Carolyn; his son, Mark G. (Shelly) Kelly of Hornell; his daughter, Elizabeth A. (Josh) Roe of Sayre, Pa.; his grandchildren, Daniel, Katlyn and Lauran Kelly and Emma and Tyler Roe; his sisters, Joanne (Bill) Mulhollen of Addison and Dorothy Rudolph of Buffalo; and several brother-in-laws and sisters-in-laws; also his 22 nieces and nephews.
Calling hours are from 4-8 p.m. today at the Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc., 285 Main St., Hornell, where the Ancient Order of Hibernians will conduct a memorial service at 7:45 p.m. today.
Friends are invited to meet his family at St. Ignatius Loyola Church where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Private committal prayers, for his immediate family, and interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Town of Fremont.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing may contribute in his memory to either the Hornell YMCA Capital Project, 12 Center St., or to the Hornell Little League, E. Washington St., Hornell, NY 14843. Envelopes for memorial contributions will be available at the funeral home.