John “Jack” J. Kelliher, Jr., of West Roxbury, MA passed away peacefully on March 9, 2021 after a brief illness. Jack was the husband of the late Teresa (Manning) Kelliher. He was the son of the late John J. Kelliher, Sr. and Edith (Landry).
Jack was born August 4, 1929 and grew up in Allston, MA. He was eager to share tales of his adventures in Allston from delivering newspapers before school or playing ball at Smith’s Field. Allston is where he met and married the love of his life Teresa Manning. They shared 61 wonderful years of marriage before her passing in 2014.
A proud Korean War Veteran Jack was in the Air Force having served in Japan and Korea.
Jack was employed at Western Electric for many years until his early retirement in 1984.
He had a deep love of sports and was a promising baseball player during his years at The High School of Commerce. He loved people and they loved him. Weekends away with his friends and vacations at Hampton Beach boating on “The Big Jim” were two of his many pastimes .
Jack is survived by his daughter Karen and her husband Richard O’Connell of Andover, his son John (Jack) Kelliher III and his wife Suzanne of Dedham. His grandchildren, Kristen O’Connell Kehoe and Ron Kehoe, Rich and Kristen O’Connell, Brendan O’Connell and Mary Andrews, John IV, Catie, Charlotte, and Candace Kelliher as well as great grandchildren, Ronan and Tommy Kehoe ,and Richie O’Connell.
Jack was the “big” brother of Leonard Kelliher and his late wife Nancy of Allston, Nancy Hastings and her late husband Edward of Norwood and Susan Whitworth and her husband Luke of Lake Placid, Florida. He was the brother-in-law of Rita Kelly and her late husband Andrew of West Roxbury.
He is survived by many loving nieces and nephews
Funeral from the William J. Gormley Funeral Home, 2055 Centre St., West Roxbury on Monday, March 15, at 8 am followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Susanna Church, Dedham at 9 am. Visiting hours Sunday 2-6 pm. Interment at the National Cemetery, Bourne, MA at 12:45 on Wednesday March 17. Late Veteran U.S. Air Force, Korean War.
Due to Covid restrictions the Funeral Mass at St. Susanna Church will be private. The Funeral Mass can be viewed online at www.saintsusanna.org A Memorial Mass and celebration of life will be held at a future time when it is safe to do so.
In lieu of flowers donations in memory of Jack may be made to the St. jude’s children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl. Memphis, TN 38105 www.stjude.org. For online guestbook www.gormleyfuneral.com