John J. "Jack" Kelly
...“The Salsa Man,” age 57
MERRIMACK, NH John J. "Jack" Kelly, age 57, passed away peacefully on April 26, 2008 at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center in Nashua, NH, surrounded by his family.
He was the son of the late Eleanor G. (Benoit) Kelly and the biological son of the late Matthew O’Connor of Cambridge, MA. He was later adopted by his mother’s second husband, the late Philip Kelly.
Jack was born and raised in the Cambridge and Somerville, MA, area until his family moved to Tewksbury, MA, in the 1960’s. He attended Tewksbury High School and served in the US Army during the Vietnam Era. He specialized in helicopter flight and repair for the Army. He was proud to have served his country.
As a self taught chef, he owned and operated Kelly’s by the Lake in Dracut, MA. After selling the restaurant, he decided to expand his career by working in corporate food service including Lockheed Sanders Corporation in Hudson and Nashua, until health issues forced his early retirement. He then created, marketed, and sold “Jack’s Ass Kickin’ Salsa” which was an immediate success and sought after by many a Salsa lover!
His family recalled; No one left his house without a good joke, a hug, a full belly, a plate full of food to take home and an “I love you.” He will be forever loved and missed by all who had the pleasure of really knowing him.
He is survived by his wife and best friend of 33 years, Nancy E. (Byette) Kelly. His two loving and proud children; his daughter, Jacy C. (Kelly) Amenkowicz and her husband Mark of Milford, NH, his son, John J. " JJ " Kelly, Jr., of Milford, NH; his “acquired” son Roger C. Preston, III and his wife Tiffany of Franklin, NH. He was an amazing and loving grandfather to Elias and Abigail Amenkowicz, and little Roger Preston; his mother in law, Jean "Bonnie" Byette to whom he opened his heart and home; his sister, Darlene Kelly and her partner Cheri Masseur of Nashua, NH; his brother James "Jim Jim" Kelly of Pelham, NH; his sister, Denise Vittum and her husband Mark Field of Pelham, NH; his brother, Jamie Vittum and his wife Estee of Derry, NH; his sister-in law, Carol Nikin and her husband Joseph of Salem, NH; his brother-in-law, John "Jack" Byette and his wife Janet of Dracut, MA; his nieces and nephews, Joshua Morrison, Jamie Rondeau, Dylan and Chelsi Fogarty, and Keith and Katie Byette. He was also the son-in-law of the late John F. "Buddy" Byette.
His Funeral Service was held Thursday, May 1, in St. Anne's Episcopal Church, in Downtown Lowell. Following cremation, his burial will be private. The family requests that a donation be made to any organization that supports our troops, such as Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675-8517, visit; woundedwarrierproject.org