William P. Kelly

KELLY, William P. Brigadier General (Retired) William P. Kelly, 86, of Newington died peacefully on (February 28, 2009) at the Hospital of Central CT. Born to the late Anne (Pearson) and Thomas J. Kelly on Jan. 10, 1923 in Norwich, General Kelly graduated from Norwich Free Academy and soon thereafter, began his long and notable military career as an Army private in the Pacific Theater of World War II, including as a gunner at The Battle of Okinawa. After the war and an honorable discharge from the Army, General Kelly returned to his beloved Norwich. During his daily ferry commute to Fisher's Island, he met the love of his life and his future bride, Angela Arnone, whom he married in May 1949. He returned to active military service during the Korean Conflict as a staff sergeant in the Connecticut Army National Guard. During his long tenure with the National Guard, General Kelly's responsibilities included command of the Nike Ajax missile site located in the Avon-Simsbury area where he was in command and on alert status during the Cuban Missile Crisis. In 1972, he assumed command of the decommissioning of the Nike sites throughout Connecticut. General Kelly was a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Leavenworth, KS and was awarded the Legion of Merit, Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medals, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal. General Kelly was a long time member and past president of the Officer's Club of Connecticut, located in Hartford. General Kelly completed his military career at the National Guard Headquarters Unit in Hartford, retiring in 1981 to begin a new career of public service to the citizens of Newington, where he and his family had moved in 1967. He served for many years on the Town's Economic Development Commission, including several terms as Vice-Chairman, and was a long-time member of the Newington Democratic Town Committee. He was the Reviewing Officer for the Town's Memorial Day Parade for many years, and was honored by the Town as the Grand Marshal for the 2007 Memorial Day Parade. Bill was a long time communicant of St. Mary's Church, Newington and a 3rd and 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus Council #3884. Bill is survived by his wife of 59 years, Angela and their five children: daughter Rosanne and husband Paul O'Neil of Torrington; daughter Maureen Kelly of Colchester; son William P. Kelly, Jr. and wife Sally Whipple of Colchester; son John M. and wife Kelley Kelly of Newington; and daughter Colleen and husband Steven Cultrera of Newington. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Christopher O'Neil of Torrington, Shawna O'Neil of New Haven, Lauren Moran of Colchester, Jacob and Samuel Cultrera of Newington, and Katie and Evelyn Kelly of Newington. General Kelly was predeceased by his brother, Thomas Kelly, of Palm Coast, FL and his sister, Catherine Wawrzynowicz, of Norwich. All who knew Bill will miss his devotion to his wife and family, his love of this country, and his faith in God. We will also miss his wonderful, sometimes corny, sense of humor and his never-ending pride in his Irish heritage. The family wishes to extend its deep thanks for the wonderful care by the staff at Cedar Mountain Commons, especially Julie Van Elswyk, and by the staff at Best Companions, Inc., especially Yvette Hasiv. His funeral service will be held Saturday, 10 a.m. from Newington Memorial Funeral Home, 20 Bonair Ave., Newington, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial, 11 a.m. at St. Mary's Church, Newington. Interment, with Military Honors, will be in West Meadow Cemetery, Newington. Relatives and friends are invited to call Friday from 4-8 p.m. at Newington Memorial. Memorial donations may be made to the Disabled American Veterans, 35 Cold Spring Rd., Suite 315, Rocky Hill, CT 06067. To share a memory with his family, please visit us at www. newingtonmemorial.com.