John "Jack" H. Kelley, Jr.

COLONIE - John H. Kelley, Jr. (Jack) died on April 29, 2024 at Shaker Place Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in the care of Hospice.  Jack was born on May 17, 1947 in Albany, NY to John H. Kelley, Sr. and Ann P. Kelley.  He grew up in Delmar and attended the inaugural class of St. Thomas the Apostle Grade School.  He graduated from Vincentian Institute in 1965.  After a stint as a courier for a law research firm, he began a 40 year career as a transit system operator and later a dispatcher for the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA).  He was a proud member of the Amalgamated Transit Union.  He was also an auxiliary member of VFW Post 3185.  During his working years, Jack especially enjoyed vacations to New Orleans to visit his friend of many years, Joe Figel.

Jack was an ardent collector.  His pipe collection was impressive.  He was a voracious reader and had an extensive media library.  He loved many genres including detective fiction from the 1930’s through the 1960’s.  He loved old radio shows and films:  Sherlock Holmes, The Shadow, The Lone Ranger, film noir, adventure, and comedy.  He was a big fan of “Dr. Who”.

Jack had a special love for his family:  his parents, his seven brothers and sisters and, especially his nieces and nephews, to whom he was always very thoughtful and generous.  He always looked forward to the holiday gatherings, home cooked meals and summer cookouts.  A highlight of his retirement was a trip to Ireland with other family members in 2012.  He was the family historian, always able to pull out a date, a fact, or a distant memory that no one else could recall.  He was predeceased by his parents, his sister, Catherine Kelley, and his brother-in-law, Joseph Hughes.  He is survived by his siblings, Mary T. Thomas (Errol) of Eliot, ME, Ann Hughes of Venice, FL, Joseph Kelley (Kathy) of Menands, Robert Kelley of Albany, Elizabeth Cassidy (Robert) of Delmar, and Margaret Bonanni (Thomas) of Salisbury, NC.  He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and grand nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, May 4, 2024 from 10:00 to 11:00 AM at Cannon Funeral Home, 2020 Central Avenue, Colonie, NY 12205 with a memorial service to follow. Interment will be in St. Agnes Cemetery, Menands. Jack’s family would like to express our sincere appreciation to the staff members of Shaker Place and Hospice. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to VFW No. 3185, 404 Delaware Avenue, Delmar, NY 12054.  To leave a message of condolence for the family, visit www.CannonFuneral.com