|
 John
J. "Jack" Kelly, 62, of Lancaster, died on November 24, 2010 at
Hospice of Lancaster County, surrounded by his beloved family
after fighting a courageous 19 month battle with cancer. Jack was
born in Lancaster to Marilyn R. Kelly of Lancaster and the late
Leo F. Kelly. He was a 1966 graduate of Lancaster Catholic High
School where he was an outstanding musician. An award in his
honor is still visible in the High School trophy case.
A young
patriot, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force while still in high
school. A Vietnam-era veteran, he earned numerous citations for
his distinctive service including: the Vietnam Service Medal and
the Air Force Commendation Medal. After his discharge, Jack
enrolled at the Penn State University campus in Wilkes-Barre, PA.
While there, he served as the General Manager of the campus radio
station, President of the campus Broadcasting Club,
contributing-editor of the campus newspaper, a member of the
student council, and President/Director of the campus Drama Club.
While still a student, he was recruited to join a local radio
station and began a career in Broadcasting. In 1972, during
Hurricane Agnes, Jack and a small team of reporters earned
national recognition reporting around the clock while stranded in
their third floor office building. They were the only source of
information on the radio bandwidth reporting on the devastation to
the outside world. Soon afterward, Jack became a local
broadcaster when he was hired as News Director at WNOW/Q-106 in
York. He also worked at WSBA in York and WLPA in Lancaster.
After moving
to New York in 1976, he discovered his true passion, flying. Jack
obtained his private and commercial license, plus instrument and
multi-engine ratings. He was employed at Teterboro, NJ as a
charter pilot and in night-time aerial advertising over New York
City. He moved back to Lancaster in 1983. Here, he was a
civic-minded community member who was a volunteer with the
American Heart Association and the Lancaster United Way campaign.
He also held past memberships with the Knights of Columbus,
American Legion, VFW, the Lancaster Traffic Club, the Sales &
Marketing Club of Lancaster and the Riverside Club. In 1986, he
married his beloved Lisa and raised three beautiful children:
Genevieve Susan Zercher wife of Richard Zercher, Jr. of Lititz,
Matthew John Kelly of Lancaster and Jillian Marie Kelly fiancé of
Steven Hammerstone of Lancaster. He is also survived by his
granddaughter Olivia and Genevieve's expected daughter Erin, plus
7 brothers and sisters: Warren Stephen of Turin, Italy, Timothy
James of Lincoln, NE, Anthony Paul of Lancaster, Theresa Marie of
NYC, Leo Francis of Glendale, CA, Dr. Eleanor Marie of San Diego,
CA, and Eileen Patrice of Norwalk, CT.
Friends will
be received on Saturday, November 27, 2010 from 10-11AM at the
Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory, 3110 Lititz Pike,
Lititz, PA with the Funeral Service to follow at 11AM, the Rev.
Joseph Hilbert officiating. Interment in Conestoga Memorial Park.
Donations, in lieu of flowers, can be made to Hospice of Lancaster
County, 685 Good Drive, Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604-4125. To
send an online condolence, please visit:SnyderFuneralHome.com.
Charles F. Snyder Jr Funeral Home & Crematory, 717-560-5100 |
