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Robert J. Kelleher
Robert J. Kelleher
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Robert Kelleher Obituary
Announcement of Kelleher's death Wednesday from Chief Judge Audrey B. Collins of the Central District of California who called him "a great judge and a dear friend."
"Judge Kelleher contributed to the life and history of the court and continued to handle cases well into his 90s," she said.
Among key cases he presided over was the late 1970s espionage trial of Christopher Boyce and Andrew Daulton Lee. The case became the basis for a book and movie, "The Falcon and the Snowman." The defendants, childhood pals from good homes, were convicted of conspiring to sell classified secrets to the Soviet Union.
Kelleher, born in New York City, was a graduate of Williams College and Harvard Law School. He was appointed to the federal benc h by President Richard M. Nixon in 1970.
Kelleher was a former tennis champion who captained the triumphant 1963 U.S. Davis Cup team. He and his late wife, Gracyn Wheeler Kelleher, won the mixed doubles championship in 1947. She died in 1980.
He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2000 and received his Hall of Fame ring just a year ago on July 3, 2011. As a leader of national and international tennis organizations he helped usher tennis into the modern era.
Kelleher is survived by a son, R. Jeffrey Kelleher, daughter, Karen Kathleen Kelleher and three grandchildren.
LINDA DEUTSCH, AP Special Correspondent
Copyright © 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
44 Entries
July 15, 2016
Memories of our tennis matches with pancho and traveling with you for the Wimbledon keep my thoughts of you in mind. Rest in peace.
Dr Geoffrey A Smith, (La Jolla, Ca)
October 6, 2015
Still greatly missed, greatly loved and always in my heart! Memories of time spent together make me smile!
Cynthia Futter
February 12, 2013
I know this is late, but i just learned of Judge Kelleher's passing. i was one of his law clerks in 1983 and i would often stop by and see him when i was in Los Angeles and in court. i truly became a much better lawyer because of my time with him. my condolences at this late date. i wish him good luck and godspeed.
July 9, 2012
My sincere condolences to the family and friends for your loss. Trust in God and find comfort in His Word to get you through. - Rev. 31:3,4
How you can show support
E Williams
June 30, 2012
To the Kelleher family,
My heart goes out to you. May you find comfort in the many kind words said about Robert. The type of serve he did is an honorable profession.
Psalms 37:28
michael hill
June 27, 2012
To the kelleher family, sorry for the home going of a great man that I respected comeing up as a kid. May my god be with you all in this time of mr robert j. Kelleher home going.
P.S
June 27, 2012
May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.
June 27, 2012
Sorry to hear about your loss. May the Hearer of prayer be with you at this time. Psalm 65:2
June 27, 2012
With deepest sympathy to the Kelleher family during your time of grief...Psalm 46:1...God is for us a refuge and strength, A help that is readily to be found during difficult times...May God provide you with peace and comfort to endure the days ahead.
June 26, 2012
May you be comforted by warm memories and the love of one another.
Camille
June 26, 2012
Longevity is a blessing from God. (Psalm 90:10) . . .In themselves the days of our years are seventy years; And if because of special mightiness they are eighty years," . . .May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.
Brenda Simon
June 26, 2012
To God Be The Glory
June 25, 2012
I am so very sorry for your loss. We all look forward to the time when those who have died will return to life. john 5:28.
June 25, 2012
May the God of justice and peace be with you and comfort you at this time of your loss.
Sincerely,
Pastor Paula White @NDCC
June 25, 2012
May the love that surrounds you help your heart heal;
We stand beside you with the Love of God and Strength.
Pastor Paula White & the New Destiny Christian Center Church Family
T B
June 25, 2012
So few men of honor left in this world, sad to lose another. What a life well spent. My condolences to the family.
Catherine Ainsworth
June 24, 2012
May God your Family praying for you
Chrissie Watling Paddock
June 24, 2012
Jeff, I so enjoyed meeting you, and hearing about your "Watlingisms". My father, Jack Watling, so admired your father. My thoughts and prayers are with you. I leave for San Diego on June 28th. I've recently lost my brother, Jim Watling, whom I think you knew. When the time is right, we should connect. Here's my phone number in San Diego, where I'll be for the summer.
Chrissie Watling Paddock
619-269-3301
[email protected]
June 24, 2012
To the family of Robert Kelleher may God give you comfort and peace by means of prayer - Philipians 4:6,7. My deepest sympathy
Victoria ~:~ Valdez
June 23, 2012
Spiritual new Journey'
Outstanding and
truthful respects
to a Man of Honor
Admired & inspired
Law School educated
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Antonio
June 23, 2012
To Family of Robert I am so sorry for your lost. Let me share a scripture with you at James 4:8 were it says Draw close to god and he will draw close to you.
June 23, 2012
TO THE FAMILY OF ROBERT J.KELLEHER,I EXPRESS MY DEEPEST SYMPATHY AT THIS VERY DIFFICULT AND PAINFUL TIME.PLEASE FIND COMFORT AT ISAIAH 45:18.AW.HOUSTON,TX.
June 22, 2012
Rest in eternal peace with our loving Savior!
anthony ishaman
June 22, 2012
this candel is for you great ded
anthony ishamn
June 22, 2012
you are a good mann test in peace and hve a great life
Joseph Brandeis Stahl
June 22, 2012
Judge Kelleher was a man of supreme courage and bedrock integrity who did not fear to champion unpopular causes when he knew he was right - and to win them. Little known is that he has a dearly remembered history in New Orleans, where he played tennis with the city's notables (Ernie Sutter, Lester Kabacoff, Edgar B. Stern), when he was stationed there during WWII, and afterwards when he occasionally sat as a federal judge ad hoc in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. My father's former law partner, U.S. District Judge Morey L. Sear, E.D. La., used to arrange Judge Kelleher's docket for him when he came to town, and Judge Kelleher once recounted to me this warm memory he had of Morey: Judge kelleher was taking a cruise on the Queen Elizabeth II when the ship went through the Panama Canal; he was quite surprised when the ship's public address system asked him to come up to the wheelhouse; it turned out that Morey, who had been sitting ad hoc as the U.S. District Judge for the District of Panama and who knew that Judge Kelleher was aboard the ship, had arranged to board the ship himself, go up to the wheelhouse and have the Captain make that announcement. When Judge Kelleher, mystified, proceeded up to the wheelhouse, he was delighted to find his good friend Judge Sear and the Captain waiting for him there. What a good man Judge Kelleher was. I always looked forward to seeing and talking with him at Indian Wells and the U.S. Open.
June 22, 2012
We are so sorry for your tragic loss. Our father was not only your dad's colleague but also his very dear friend. It is judges like your dad that earn and deserve the recognition of "Your Honor".
Walter T McGovern McGovern daughters,
Trina, Shawn, and Renee.
Ford
June 22, 2012
Judge Kelleher lived a life of special mightiness (Psalm 90:10). My sincerest condolences to Judge Kelleher's family and close friends.
mary holmes
June 22, 2012
What pain and grief one feels when there is a loss,my heart felt sympathy to family and friends.
SIGRID DRAPER
June 22, 2012
WORDS FAIL, TEARS FALL. fOR THOSE OF US WHO KNEW AND LOVED HIM, IT WILL NEVER BE THE SAME. UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN, ALL THE BEST.
Marina
June 22, 2012
My condolences to the the family, and all who knew him. (Roman 15:33)
June 21, 2012
My prayers are with the Kelleher family during their time of loss.
Rosetta Lynn Mcclain
June 21, 2012
We didn't know 1 another ..but i do BELIEVE U MUST BE IN A FAR BETTER PLACE THAN THIS PLACE CALLED EARTH ..and I'M PRETTY SURE THAT GOD IS ABOUT 2 END ..& NOT A DAY 2 SOON..I'M READY 2 MEET MY MAKER..I'M ALMOST SCARED 2 RAISE MY BEAUTIFUL 6 YR OLD BABY GIRL IN THIS CRUEL WORLD..THANKS FOR MAKING THE USA A LITTLE BETTER PLACE.MAY U REST IN PEACE & UR FAMILY & FRIENDS FIND PEACE & MOST IMPORTANT....GOD
June 21, 2012
To the the family of Robert Kelleher - May God give you peace and comfort through his word and the Lord Jesus Christ during this time of sorrow, I know that he will be missed by many.
June 21, 2012
A wonderful, talented and caring man. I'll always remember his interests in what I was doing along with advice. My prayers are with you.
Ed Fabricius Dir. Communication USTA 1977-1993.
William Murphy
June 21, 2012
Judge Kelleher was an outstanding Judge and a respected trial lawyer. I was honored to serve as one of his law clerks in the late 1970's; observing Judge Kelleher and listening to him explain how he handled a particular case was education better than law school. I will also always remember his fondness for the big Lincoln Mark III that his law clerks were sometimes tasked with ferrying to various repair shops after hours. My sincerest condolences to Jeff, Kathy, and the entire Kelleher family on the loss of a father who led by example to make better lawyers of those who appeared bedfore him or who worked with him.
M M
June 21, 2012
Our hearts go out to the Kelleher family. Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this time of great loss.
Harts
June 21, 2012
Our heartfelt condolences for your loss. May our Heavenly Father, the GOd of comfort and tender mercies be with you. With deep sympathy,
ms
June 21, 2012
My deepest condolences to the Kelleher family. May your loving memories of Robert be of great comfort to you during this difficult time.
June 21, 2012
I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. The bible can be f some comfort at John 3:16
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