John G. Kelleher (The Captain) of Winthrop (Point Shirley) passed away on April 17, 2024. He was 92 years old. John was the beloved husband of Jane F. Kelleher (Ellinwood) who preceded him in death in June. Born in Boston and raised in Arlington and Revere, he was the cherished son of the late John A. Kelleher and Lillian J. Kelleher (Kemp).
Prior to his retirement, John was a veteran of both the Army and Navy and worked as a fruit broker and as a cook at The Department of Youth Services. He was a lifelong scuba enthusiast teaching his children and the youth of Winthrop the joys of underwater exploration. Rumor has it that he caught the world’s largest lobster in Marblehead Harbor in 1960! John loved the ocean and spent 63 years in his home on the beach in Winthrop which he and his wife Jane called paradise. He was usually seen smoking a cigar while chatting with his neighbors and greeting anyone who walked by as he never met a stranger. The neighborhood dogs always insisted on a visit with the Captain during their daily walks!
John was the devoted father of Virginia Fontana and her husband Michael of Malden, Elizabeth Boncore and her husband Robert of Templeton, MA, John “Jake” Kelleher and his wife Renee, Kathleen Fiamma and her husband Vincent, and David Kelleher and his wife Liza all of Newburyport, Kevin Kelleher and his wife Colleen of North Reading and Mary Vaccaro and her husband Joseph of Winthrop. He was the larger-than-life Papa to Kati, Julie, Domenic and Andrew Fontana, Jack, Emily Rose, and Grace Kelleher, Alex, Amanda and Isa Kelleher, Alyson, Shannon and Dylan Kelleher and Christa and Holly Vaccaro. John was the dear brother of Sister Virginia Kelleher of Framingham and brother-in-law to the late Sandra Carignan and the loving uncle of Steven and Michael Carignan all of Chelmsford.
Visiting hours will be held in the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home 210 Winthrop St. Winthrop on Friday, April 26, from 9-11AM, followed by a funeral Mass in St. John the Evangelist Church (St. Michaels Parish) 320 Winthrop St. Winthrop. Relatives and friends are invited. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston, 637 Cambridge St., Brighton, MA 02135.