Thursday ObitsCoyote |
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Master and Commander Posts: 1555 Location: NE Florida | Subject: Thursday Obits https://www.facebook.com/ussvi.eternalpatrol/ https://ussvi.org/membership/eternal-patrol (USSVI members only) The above link goes to the USSVI (United States Submarine Veterans, Inc.) Facebook page where their members who have gone on “Eternal Patrol” are noted. I’ll keep my work here going, trying to get others who were not USSVI members. You’re encouraged to look there as well as here! Obviously, there’ll be some I miss and some I duplicate. KELLY .. .. .. Robert (Bob) H. Kelly, 83, of West Hartford, Connecticut, passed away peacefully early Sunday morning, September 27, 2026, with his wife Jaen Andrews with him. Robert was born in Philadelphia, PA in November of 1942, son of the late Joseph and Emma Theresa (Wegfahrt) Kelly. Bob was not initially a dedicated college student; after 2 years at Villanova University, he left and then joined the US Navy Submarine Service, where he served from 1963 to 1969 and became a nuclear power reactor operator — which required 2 additional years in the service for training and education. After his honorable discharge, he managed to persuade the reluctant powers that be at Villanova to give him a second chance — and he exceeded expectations! He graduated with an ME in 1972, and worked as a nuclear power reactor supervisor at Florida Power and Light. He then began a third career, earning a JD from University of Miami School of Law in 1978 and becoming a patent attorney. He worked in both private law firms and corporations, eventually becoming Patent Counsel at UTC Fuel Cells, from which he retired in 2009. Bob was a widower in 2008 when a legal recruiter Bill McLaughlin set him up on a blind date with Jaen, also a patent attorney; sparks did not fly at that initial date at the Wadsworth Atheneum, but grew slowly (and then more quickly!) and steadily into a wonderful warm second love. Both Bob and Jaen had moved so many times in their lives that travel didn’t have much appeal, and settling down in West Hartford was a relief and a delight. Bob was a homebody, and enjoyed the many nearby amenities, such as UHar President’s College courses, hiking, bicycling, concerts, plays, and more. Early on, they both enjoyed visiting Connecticut tourist sites “off the beaten path,” using maps to route their trips by backroads through the state. He was a quiet but quirky, with a droll sense of humor - he used to make Jaen laugh and laugh. He was smart, and enjoyed following politics, supporting candidates whose policies aligned with his world view. And he preferred being busy, doing projects around the house and yard and for their youngest daughter who lived nearby. At age 82, he was mowing the grass, removing snow, cutting down small trees, removing branches, and digging out stumps, trimming bushes, cleaning gutters, and more. Unfortunately, Bob eventually suffered from late onset toxicity from radiation, which was tissue and organ destruction consistent with radiation induced damage from “treatment” for prostate cancer nearly 20 years ago, and which is ultimately what led to his death. He is survived by many family members: his wife of 18 years, Jaen Andrews; children, Peter Kelly (Daisy Snyder), Catherine Kelly (William Kim), and Kalin Andrews; brothers, Joseph (Judy) Kelly, John (Mary Ann) Kelly, and Charles (Susan) Kelly; sister, Margarett (Kelly) McDevitt; as well as many nieces, nephews and special friends. He was predeceased by his first wife of 37 years, Susan (Kennedy) Kelly, sisters Elizabeth (Kelly) John, Evelyn (White) Marcucci, and brother Richard Kelly. | ||
