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Hugh Kelly Obituary
HUGH VINCENT KELLY
Hugh Vincent Kelly, beloved father of Brendan Michael and brother of Michael Joseph, died on December 13, 2022, in Edgewater, Maryland at 77 years old.
Hugh was a true Publican: the owner of Kellys' Irish Times on Capitol Hill, an engaging host and gifted storyteller, and a man that friends and patrons would turn to for a sympathetic ear or a helping hand.
Hugh was born in Ballyclamay, Longford, Ireland, to Michael and Josephine Kelly, as the oldest of six children. He emigrated from Ireland in 1963, arriving in New York and making his way to Washington, DC in 1964. He opened his first Irish pub, My Mother's Place, in 1968. He continued in the pub business, working as the General Manager of the Dubliner pub on Capitol Hill before opening his own Irish pub next door, Kellys' Irish Times, in 1978. He turned his pub into a cherished DC institution, and helped countless individuals who entered the pub as patrons and exited as dear friends. Hugh changed lives, whether through employment, charitable actions, or support of all things Irish, including St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School, Archbishop Carroll High School, the Police Emerald Society of DC, DC Fire & EMS, the St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee, and the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
Hugh was delighted to pass on ownership of the pub to his son, Brendan, in 2004, so he could enjoy retirement with his wife at his house on the South River in Edgewater, Maryland. He made many new friends in Edgewater, and loved boating and opening his home to family and friends, old and new.
With his brilliant wit and generous spirit, Hugh touched the hearts of many. He will always be remembered for his passion for his wife, family, and friends; his love of Irish poetry and music; his knowledge of literature and history; and his warm hospitality and zest for life which continues on in his son, granddaughter, and staff of Kellys' Irish Times.
Hugh was predeceased by his loving wife (Belinda), his brother (Matthew), and his sister (Maisy). He will be well remembered and cherished by his son (Brendan), his daughter-in-law (Julie), his granddaughter (Megan), his brothers (Michael and Brendan), his sister (Imelda McLoone), and his nieces and nephews. He will be missed and loved forever by his family, his close friends, and devoted caregivers (Virgina, Marigold, Jaime, Emmanuel, Marie), and generations of Kellys' Irish Times staff and patrons.
The funeral mass celebrating Hugh's life will be held at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, 1725 Rhode Island Avenue Northwest, on Saturday, January 14, at 2 p.m. Inurment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Anthony Catholic School in Brookland, Washington, DC.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Hugh Kelly
Doug Redman
December 14, 2024
I am so sorry to learn just today, 2 years later, of Hugh's death. The Irish Times was my go to place from 1983 to 1999 when I changed work locations but still went there less frequently after that
Hugh was always kind, generous and humorous. My sincere condolences to Brendan and the rest of his family.
Doug Redman
denis Magner
December 12, 2024
The memories I still have of my time staying with Hugh and working in the Irish Times are as clear as if they only occured yesterday.Seamus McCormack and I had an incredible time in DC,A great man who really knew how to look after people.Hugh I hope you are being looked after up above. Your forever friend __Denis Magner,Tullamore
Patricia Hawkins de Medina
November 3, 2024
So immensely sad to learn (only today) that my dear first cousin Hugh passed away two years ago. May he rest in peace. We used to have long chats together and visited him in Edgewater a few times. Hugh will be sadly missed. His kindness Will live on.
denis Magner
December 12, 2023
Hard to believe that its a year since Hugh has left us. i have many great memories of staying with Hugh and working in the Irish Times andof the many places Hugh brought us including the White House-=- Rest in peace good friend
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Mike McIntyre
March 17, 2023
How ironic I learn of Hugh Kelly´s passing on St. Paddy´s Day. A flood of memories take me back to 1975 to The Dubliner, the days before the rising of of the resturant upstairs! The music was awesome with a young Christy Hughes helping out. A couple of years later Hugh held court at the Irish Times.
I will always remember his larger than life presence, his love of Irish music and his late night hospitality. My mind often races back to those pre digital days that made for great friendship laughter and storytelling. 47 years after last seeing Hugh Kelly, his memory and love for life will sustain me for the balance of my life. My I have the good fortune to tell Brendan in person someday that his father was simply the very best. Slainte Hugh, may you Rest In Peace.
Stephen Schwab
January 26, 2023
Hugh was truly a "larger than life" fellow. We shared a house in Mt. Pleasant for a while in the 1970s. He found the best places in the neighborhood for me to take my laundry and dry cleaning. He told me to say "the Irishman sent you." He was also a great conversationalist.
Timothy Walthall
January 18, 2023
Hugh Vincent Kelly
February 27, 1945 - December 13, 2022
I feel ineffable sadness over the death of my friend Hugh Kelly. My heart goes out to Brendan, Julie, Megan, Michael, Imelda, and the rest of Hugh´s family and friends who miss him as I do. Hugh figured prominently as one of the legacy publicans in the Washington DC area. He will be remembered for his gracious hospitality, generosity, as well as his storytelling and poetry reading. But I valued him for his friendship. His bar ownership genius first attracted me, and then his humor, intelligence, literacy, and integrity deepened and cemented our personal connection. Friendship is the benchmark of happiness in our lives. We need someone that we can drink and laugh and create mischief with; sing, read poetry, and share stories with. But most of all conversation is the hallmark of friendship. We need someone with whom we can discuss everything from current affairs to the most intimate details of our lives. Hugh Kelly was that man for me. Added to this was Hugh´s Irishness. Although he prided himself on being a citizen of the world not necessarily tethered to Ireland, Hugh was quintessentially Irish. His Irishness was as much a part of him as his human decency. His Irishness made me appreciate my own Irish roots and gave me a fuller appreciation of my heritage that culminated in, among other things, my formation of a band of Irish musicians. I can´t help but add a touch of Hugh´s wry humor. One evening Hugh and I headed for a bar that was "radically discounting liters of Heineken for happy hour." Hugh pulled up in front and parked in a handicap zone. "Don´t worry Walthall," he said, we´re not handicapped now - but we will be when we come out." More than seven years separate the passing of Hugh from that of his beloved wife, Belinda. I´m sure their reunion will be joyous, while we feel the pain of his departure and once again hers. I feel that a huge part of my life has been torn away from me and that I am standing in an empty house once filled with laughter and merriment, but which now stands stark and empty and still. But grief also sharpens us to what was good and happy. My own grief has elicited a flood of good, happy memories about Hugh and Belinda. I miss them both. I always will. And I will always be in awe of Hugh Kelly, a practical and comic genius who graced me and my wife Barbara with his friendship. We will never see the likes of him again.
"Walthall"
Pat Fitzmaurice
January 18, 2023
I remember visiting Hugh at his house near the water. Everything in his home reminded me of Ireland. He loved good stories and was able to laugh and share meals with us when we came.
Good memories. Rest in Peace, Hugh.
Michael Flood
January 17, 2023
My sincerest condolences to Brendan and the Kelly family.
Hugh was a giant who showed all of us what success looks like - in life and business. While he was as robust as he was generous, I will forever recall how effortlessly he found the rhythm of life and lived.
He is missed.
Donald Brady
January 15, 2023
Eternal rest grant unto Hugh Kelly. May he rest in peace.
Pete Papageorge
January 15, 2023
I will always be grateful to Paul Martin, a fellow performer, who informed me, in 1985, that the Irish Times was again featuring live music after a year's hiatus. I had no way of knowing as I brought my audition cassette to the manager at that time, Tony O´Connor, that the Times would become my home base for the next 29+ years. Soon after I began playing there, I met Hugh Kelly. Sometimes, in those days, late at night after closing, we'd gather in the back room with Hugh encouraging us to give a poem or a song. Those were magical moments, which don't ever seem to last long enough, but for which one is always grateful. It was then that I discovered the real Hugh Kelly, generous, inclusive, soulful. My heart goes out to Brendan and his family, and to all who knew and loved Hugh. Ours was an emotional bond. May his memory shine forth ever so brightly!
Sean M Warble
January 14, 2023
I worked at the Irish Times three different times over the span of 8 years from 2003-2011. The Kelley family treated me better than anyone else I ever worked for in my 22 year career. They gave me a personal loan on two different occasions with the second one being for my honeymoon. My favorite memory oh Hugh Kelley was the day he put me in a headlock at the front door on a Friday morning. He didn´t like touching hands with people for sanitary reasons but he grabbed me wrenched my neck like a professional wrestler. It was hilarious. I remember Brendan and Kevin Malleck being in shock. We never spoke that often but he was always extremely kind with me and his son Brendan treated me like a little brother for years when he could have just treated me like a boss. I wish I was as good an employee as they were owners to me. I always heard stories from customers about how much Hugh had touched all their lives in many ways. I am very great full to have known him. I hope I can touch people the way he did someday. He will be missed and never forgotten.
Jack Milne
January 13, 2023
RIP Hughie.
Jack
Clyde and Alicia Blassengale
January 10, 2023
Hugh was a wonderful and friendly person, always positive. He was hospitable and kind to us over the years. He was liked and well respected in our Brookland Community in DC where he operated his restaurant/lounge. We will miss him dearly. He will be remembered for his many good deeds. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Gene A.King
December 21, 2022
A great person to one and all. He was an icon and
will greatly missed. Farewell, my friend until we meet again. Gene King a/k as "Banker to the Irish and the poor"
Mike Donaghue
December 20, 2022
My sincere condolences to 'the Squire's' family and countless friends. Always a delightful conversationalist and a real DC character. A group of us traveled to Ireland in 2000 and Hughie set us up with his brother at the farm in County Longford. The hospitality was, as expected, terrific. Hugh Kelly will be sorely missed.
Susan Twohig Kelly
December 20, 2022
I knew Hugh from the late 60"S when he first managed The Gentleman 2.
I waitresses at the Dubliner when he bartended. We later became joint owners of The Dubliner.
I will cherish many memories of Hugh and his love of life.
My thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time
SUSAN TWOHIG KELLY
Michael Barrett
December 20, 2022
Hughie and I drove to New Orleans for Mardi Gras where we closed Pat O´Brien´s early every morning. Need I say more? Great companion and fine host.
Mike Barrett
John and Pamela Hoy
December 19, 2022
Sending deepest sympathies to the family coming from John and Pamela Hoy in Belize city, Belize.
Chris Paynter
December 19, 2022
I am profoundly saddened to here about the passing of Hugh. I always enjoyed talking with him when he stopped by The Irish Times when I worked there. I will say a prayer for the Kelly family and always remember Hugh fondly.
Denis Magner
December 19, 2022
I am very sorry to hear of the sad passing of Hugh-a legand.As a young teacher from Ireland,Hugh put me up in his home,gave me a job in his pub and brought me and my friend to numerous places and events around DC including The White House and The Senate.He seemed to be known and highly thought of right across the social spectrum.He treated everyone the same,It was a pleasure to have known Hugh.Its great to see Kelly still in charge of The Irish Times.Sincere sympathy to Brendan and the rest of the Kelly Family.May Hugh Rest in peace
Lauri Sirois
December 19, 2022
Such a loss for so many who have known and loved Hugh throughout the years. We know those who have gone before him are saving him his favorite seat at the end of the bar, and ready for the next great story or bit of advice. Hugh could always be counted on for his huge heart and generous nature - and always being a strong shoulder at a time when we needed it most. Deepest condolences to Brendan and the rest of the family at this difficult time.
Brian Gaffney
December 19, 2022
My sincere condolences to the Kelly family. Rest in peace my auld pal.
Lilly Sullivan
December 19, 2022
Dear Brendan and family,
I am so sorry for your loss as it is not an easy thing to go through. One thing that may make you smile, is I can guarantee that my dad Paul Sullivan (Sully) welcomed him with open arms. Hugh will be missed but his memory will live on.
Condolences,
Lilly Sullivan.
Judy TIVNAN
December 18, 2022
My sympathy to Hugh´s family. His personality was bigger than life. He will always be remembered with love and kindness.
Judy TIVNAN
ALLEN FANT
December 18, 2022
Hugh was a loving and caring father and person. His success as a businessman was something that I also admired. He helped many new immigrants to get a start on life. His staff was multicultural, dedicated and stayed employed by him for many years. I was a part of that staff working as chief of security for 12 years. It was a pleasure to have known him. GOD bless you Hugh. Rest in peace.
Gary Durand
December 18, 2022
Truly one of the kindest most generous person I ever met. The world is a lesser place with his loss
Linda Hickman
December 18, 2022
My deepest condolences to the Kelly family. I spent many evenings listening to great Irish music in Kelly´s Irish Times. May he rest in peace.
Seamus McCormack,The Three Jolly Pigeons Athlone,Co.Westmeath,Ireland.
December 18, 2022
Sincere condolences to Hugh's son Brendan, his brothers Michael and Brendan,his sister Imelda and the extended Kelly family on the sad passing of Hugh.A pure gentleman,raconteur, wit,a man of arts and culture as well as a very generous person.May Hugh Rest in Peace.
Patricia Convey
December 18, 2022
With deepest sympathy to the Kelly family on the passing of Hugh may he Rest In Peace.
Keith & JoAnn Barclay
December 18, 2022
What a lovely tribute to a very special man, who touched the lives of so many, even those like us, that he didn´t know .
Our sincere condolences
Jim Thomason
December 18, 2022
What a beautiful life, and notice! Our deepest condolences to Brendan, Julie, Megan and family.
Jim and Lan Thomason
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