Robert L. Kelly was universally known as “Bob”, even to his grandchildren. Born in 1916, he was the son of Robert H. Kelly, who died heroically as a Captain in the New Haven Fire Department. His mother Hazel inspired him to attend Yale University, from which he graduated in 1937 as a chemical engineer. He worked his way through Yale by playing piano in Prohibition era speakeasies.
In 1942 he married Evelyn Deady of Seymour, Connecticut, with whom he had three sons. During World War II he traveled the country designing production methods for synthetic rubber, an industry vital to the war effort. In 1950 he moved to Cranford, NJ and finished his career as a Director for the accounting firm then known as Haskins and Sells. At Haskins and Sells, he was part of their original management consulting operation that became a model for the profession.
In 1974, having been widowed for seven years, he married Marguerite Csore. They lived happily together for many years at their riverbank home in Cranford prior to her death in 1997.
In 1998, at the age of 82 and twice widowed, he married Gloria Joan Anderson of Cranford. Bob and Joan spent 14 wonderful years enjoying life together in St. Croix, Florida, and at their home in Dartmouth. Much beloved by family and friends, he passed away at 95 on August 16, 2012 in The Villages FL, after an extended illness.
Throughout his life, Bob demonstrated an incredible ability to solve challenging problems through the use of mathematical modeling. As a consultant he was in great demand across a wide range of industries because of this talent. He saw music as an artistic application of math, and truly enjoyed playing the piano wherever he found one that was available and in tune. Bob will be missed for his sharp Irish wit, his engaging personality and his unique perspective on almost any issue that came up in conversation.
Bob leaves behind his wife Joan, three sons, Patrick of Long Island, Thomas of South Dartmouth, Terrence of Willowbrook Ill., and a beloved niece, Mary Geary of Princeton NJ. He was blessed with two grandsons, six granddaughters, and two great granddaughters.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday at 9:30 AM at St. Mary's Church, South Dartmouth. Private burial will be in St. Augustine's Cemetery, Seymour, CT. Visiting hours will be on Sunday from 3-6 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.