Thomas E. Kelly

KELLY--Thomas E., passed away on March 20, 2008 at Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, California. He was born at The Flower Fifth Avenue Hospital, New York City, on March 5, 1924 to Edward Thomas Kelly, an Alderman for the City of New York, and Anastasia Cecilia Kane. Tom Kelly was a graduate of Regis High School, a Second Lieutenant Pilot assigned to the 486th Bomber Group, 833rd Bomber Squadron of the 3rd Division of the U.S. 8th Air Force, a graduate from N.Y.U. College of Engineering where he played on the varsity basketball team, and a Boston Celtic. Tom was inducted into the N.Y.U. Athletics Hall of Fame at N.Y.U. in 1991. Tom spent four decades with The Trane Company, building the KellyTrane Service Agency, a successful business in commercial HVAC sales. Tom served as President of the Board of Education for the Syosset, L.I. Central School District No. 2 from 1954 to 1958. Tom retired to Santa Barbara, California in 1994. He was predeceased by his first wife Irene and is survived by his wife, Joanie, and six sons and four daughters, John of New York City, Jed of New Rochelle, NY, Thomas of New Canaan, CT, Christopher of Stamford, CT, Matthew of Nyack, NY, Kirk of Lakewood, NY, Ann of Milford, CT, Irene of New City, NY, Stacy of New York City, and Deirdre Shaffer of Stamford, CT; and fourteen granddaughters, eleven grandsons, and two Greatgrandchildren. He is also survived by a stepson, Jon Williamson of Los Angeles, a step daughter, Lizbeth Williams of Los Angeles, and a step grandson. A mass of Christian burial was celebrated in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Montecito, California, on March 25, 2008. Internment was in Santa Barbara Cemetery. A memorial service for friends and family will be held in Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, Stamford, Connecticut, on April 19th at 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, donations to Cancer Center at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, P.O. Box 689, Santa, Barbara, CA 93102-0689.