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BORN
1928
DIED
2019
John Kelly Obituary
October 29, 1928 - May 20, 2019
John Kelly, San Mateo County's Good Samaritan, died May 20 at age ninety. John dedicated his life to serving his local community, especially those who needed help the most. Through his example and strong leadership, John inspired others to join him in caring for all members of his local community.Born in San Francisco, he entered the Catholic seminary at age thirteen, was ordained a parish priest then assigned to teach at all-boys Serra High School in San Mateo. A few students feared Father Kelly as Dean of Students but many Serra students became friends and supporters for life.
John earned a Notre Dame masters degree and on a university break traveled with fellow students to register Black voters in South Carolina. He advocated locally for racial integration and joined a teacher strike for living wages. Resisting Church bureaucracy and dogma, in 1979 he opted for greater personal social activism. He left the priesthood, and developed a major help institution: Samaritan House. From 1985 to 1999 John led the organization to a full-service, two thousand volunteer organization offering free meals, winter homeless shelter and free medical care to anyone in need.
Leaving Samaritan House leadership, John turned to San Quentin Kairos prison ministry. Restorative justice became John's passion. He counseled, cajoled and befriended lifers and the forgotten of society. He encouraged inmates to attend academic and life-skill classes. Many learned skills and degrees and turned their life around. A large number who served their time considered John a father figure and now lead successful productive lives.
John never married, but is survived through his brother Donald, his nephews, nieces, their children, and numerous lives who he touched through his lifetime of serving his community. Nothing gave John greater joy than forming a connection with fellow men and women who society had left behind. Except perhaps engaging with his beloved grandnephew and grandnieces.
All are welcome to attend a Memorial Service at 2 p.m., June 15 at Serra High School, 451 W. 20th Ave. San Mateo, CA 94403. In lieu of flowers, please consider volunteering your time or making a donation to one of John's favorite charities: Samaritan House, Service League of San Mateo County, or San Mateo Police Activities League.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for John Kelly
3 Entries
William Campisi
July 23, 2019
I was a student of John Kelly's in Latin. I don't remember if he was my first year Latin teacher or not. He was Dean of Boys at the time. I ran track and I was in the middle of 220 yard sprint during after school practice. He came walking up to the track as I was rounding the curve. Because I really liked and respected him and wanted him to like me, I wanted to impress him that fired up by turbo charger and I started kicking like crazy and ran the hell out of that race. In my senior year, I was cutting school on Mondays, sleeping in. After I had done that a few times, he called me in to his office and told me "that's the end of that. You miss another Monday and you will go to detention." I didn't miss anymore Mondays. Many years later, I met him at a meeting in San Mateo with my friends Cyril and Eleanor Jobson, who supported his good works. He was doing such important work for the community of San Mateo. I always had the highest respect for him. He was God's blessing on earth for so many people.
John Neblett
June 15, 2019
This is John Kelly for me: acceptance, compassion, unconditional love, and a friend in my darkest times.
Les Terry
June 8, 2019
I was graced with four years of Father Kelly when he first emerged from the seminary in both in Latin and English.
He was charming, charismatic and tolerated no nonsense in the classroom. Outside he could be as competitive as anyone on the basketball court.
He was passionate about his beliefs and caring for the under served.
God Bless John on his final travel.
Les Terry
Serra 1960
Burlingame
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