John C. Kelly

Kelly, John C. MELROSE John C. Kelly, age 76 of Melrose, died at home on Monday, December 21, 2020. He was born in Brooklyn, the son of John and Margaret Brown Kelly. The family lived in Greenwood Lake and Queens, where he graduated from Bayside High School in 1962. A graduate of St. John's University in 1966, he enlisted in the Army after graduation, went to Officers Candidate School, and served in the 35th Infantry as a platoon leader in Vietnam from 1968-1969. He went on to serve in the 42nd Division of the N.Y. Army National Guard, retiring in 2004 as a major. John received many awards while in the Army, but was proudest of the Bronze star with V for valor and the Combat Infantryman's Badge. He received an M.S. from The College of Saint Rose in 1983. After Vietnam, John went on to public service with New York State, pioneering the Collections Care Facility at Peebles Island for the Division of Historic Preservation, and finishing his 29-year-career as a building manager for the Office of General Services in 2003. John loved to play the bagpipes and was a member of the Glenaine Pipe Band for many years. He continued to play at weddings and funerals, as well as for parades on the dead end road where he lived. John shared a love of history, in his case particularly military history, with his wife of 42 years, the former Christina Shaver, who survives him. They met as Revolutionary War re-enactors during the Bicentennial and married in 1977. They bought a derelict farmhouse and fifty acres in Melrose the same year. John totally restored the house, where they raised their daughters: Kathleen (Adam) Smith of Phoenix, Md., Bridget Kelly (David Kleinschmidt) of Buffalo, Fiona Kelly of Troy, and Ann (Zachary) Metzger of Cropseyville. He is also survived by his beloved grandchildren: David, Caleb and Rachel Smith, and Willa Metzger; and by his siblings: Brian (Patricia) Kelly of Floral Park, Alison (Fred) DeAngelo of Kings Park, Judith Morland of Bergen, Norway, and Margaret Kelly of Johnsonville, plus several nieces and nephews. In his retirement, John was very active in his church, Transfiguration North of Schaghticoke, especially in stewardship of its cemetery. He was a docent at the N.Y.S. Military Museum in Saratoga; a member of the 125th N.Y. Volunteer Infantry Association, a group of Civil War re-enactors; and a member of the 35th Infantry Regiment Association, attending its yearly reunions. He was a treasured volunteer and jack-of-all trades at the Hart-Cluett Museum/Historic Rensselaer County in Troy. Additionally, he was very busy with many personal projects, from working on his Jeep collection to restoring the exterior of the 1825 farmhouse at daughter Ann's Laughing Earth Farm on Route 2 in Cropseyville. Due to the pandemic, the family will have a private service, with interment to follow in Saratoga National Cemetery when it is safe. Those wishing to remember John in a special way are asked to send contributions to the Hart-Cluett Museum, 57 2nd St., Troy, NY, 12180. To share a memory with the family or to express your on-line condolences, please visit whitesanvidgefuneralhome.com