Richard F Kelly Jr.

Richard Francis Kelly Jr, 81, passed away on December 13, 2025, at the VA Hospital in Atlanta, GA. Born in New York City to his father, Richard, and mother, Eileen, Richard traveled and lived around the world in such places as Greenwich, CT, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Miami, FL, and, most recently, Johns Creek, GA, his home.

Richard grew up in Manhattan and Port Chester, NY, graduating from St. Mary's High School in Greenwich, CT. He taught himself to play the drums at an early age, becoming a member of the musicians' union by age 16. As the house band at a local nightclub, he had the opportunity to back up many of the early legends of rock and roll, including Jerry Lee Lewis, the Isley Brothers, and Smokey Robinson.

After having served for two years in the army as a sergeant in the military police, he earned his bachelor's degree from Pace University. While completing his studies, Richard also began helping his father at his firm, successfully pioneering new markets in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia for their lines of heavy construction and paving equipment. After an invitation from his father-in-law, he moved his family to Brazil to help turn around the family business and lead it to new heights.

Throughout his life, Richard continued to love playing the drums, riding his motorcycles, and building beautiful wood furniture and projects in his home woodworking shop.

Our father's true love, though, was his beautiful wife, Flavia. They first met at 16 when his father invited his largest client from Brazil to bring his family along on his next business trip to New York. Pre-cellphone and internet, they found a way to keep the flame alive from afar and were happily married in Rio in 1968 - a union that lasted for 57 years.

He was a much-loved man who meant so much to so many friends, family, and the people he worked with. He was a generous man who never hesitated to go above and beyond in helping anyone who needed help.

He was preceded in death by his father, Richard, and mother, Eileen, and survived by his wife, Flavia Kelly; children Richard Kelly (Julie) and Paula Lord (Sam); and grandchildren Sarah, Sean, Aidan, and Teagan; his sister Lynda Palazzi, brother Walter Kelly; and several beloved nieces and nephews.

Mass to be held at Saint Brigid Catholic Church in Johns Creek, GA, on [TBD], and final burial will be held on December 31, 2025, at 11:30 AM at Georgia National Cemetery, 1080 Scott Hudgens Dr., Canton, GA