Joseph Kelly

Waterford — Joseph Francis Kelly, of Waterford, passed away peacefully, after a brief illness, on May 29, 2018, surrounded by his loving family.

Joseph was born in New London, April 16, 1935, to Alice E. Brutzman and James G. Kelly. He was predeceased by his wife of 46 years, Madeline R. Hartman Kelly; his brothers, James G. Jr., Gerald E.; and sister, Phyllis A. Murphy.

Joseph enrolled at Chapman Tech and graduated from New London High School, class of 1954, after which he enlisted into the U.S. Army and was discharged before completion of his service due to a knee injury. He was employed by General Dynamics, where he worked for 38 years before his retirement. He and his brother-in-law, William Auwood, founded Coaches Film Service, where they processed local high school and U.S. Coast Guard Football game footage.

Joseph was a three-sport athlete, excelling in all. He was a quarterback for the New London Whalers. In 2013, he was inducted into the New London High School Football Hall of Fame. Joseph was a proud man who was dedicated to his family. He enjoyed many fun family adventures with his kids, coaching his son Brian’s sports teams and many summer days lounging on his pool float. In his later years, he enjoyed spending time with his sister-in-law and dear friend a.k.a. “partner in crime,” Valerie Kelly.

He is survived by his four children; Christine (Charles) Lamb, Barbara (Mark) LaLima, Mary Jane (Ed) Gallagher, Brian Kelly and his fiancé Lori Kenyon; 11 grandchildren, Aaron (Laura) Lamb, Jon Lamb, Brooke and Corey LaLima, Katie, Caroline, Eddie and Joseph Gallagher, Paige, Pat and Payton Kelly; and one great-granddaughter Emmalyn Lamb.

The Kelly family would like to extend a sincere thank you to the staff of Fairview Rehabilitation Center for their excellent care and compassion given to our Dad and our family.

Calling hours are from 5-7 p.m. Sunday June 3, at the Thomas L. Neilan & Sons Funeral Home, 12 Ocean Ave., New London. The funeral procession will assemble at 10:15 a.m. Monday, June 4, at the funeral home and proceed to a Mass of Christian burial at 11 a.m. at St. Paul Church, Waterford. Interment will be in St. Mary Cemetery, New London. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 659 Tower Ave., First Floor, Hartford, CT, 06112 (nationalmssociety.org).

Online condolences may be expressed at www.neilanfuneralhome.com.