Fermoy Toastmasters mourns veteran member John Kelly
The recently deceased Toastmaster John Kelly was a genuine people-person. When he met you, he was interested in you as an individual – getting to know your story and listening to you. His manners and personality were those of an impeccable gentleman.
John was in Fermoy Toastmasters well over 30 years making him the club’s second-longest ever serving member. He served an 18-month term as club president in 1991–1992 and again in the latter half of 2019 to honour the club’s 50th anniversary. He was consistently a regular attendee (though he did not care much for the remote ‘Zoom’ technology for the pandemic lockdown ‘virtual meetings’ of the last 12 months). He was always willing to give a speech or perform some other club task even at short notice.
For seasoned members of Toastmasters, the short-term benefits are the communication skills, the joys of being entertained by others and the feeling of good self-esteem. But like all clubs and societies the longterm benefits are the glow of humanity and social interaction. No amount of speeches, fancy podiums, information gleaned or quick witticisms can replace the joys of the tea-break, the handshake and the friendships formed and renewed repeatedly.
John’s gift-of-the-gab during the topics sessions tended to be brief but insightful, giving the feeling of an internal confidence and quiet intellect - rather than the rhetorical flourishes of other speakers.
John worked several jobs in life but in recent decades was an accomplished car salesman – working until the age of 80. His health was excellent until very recently and it is a relief to all that he got the privilege to die peacefully at his Chapel Hill home on Friday, 9th April last. He would have been 90 next October.
Like all of us, John’s life had its hard moments too. His son Declan died in an accident in 2006 and another daughter, Anne, died as a child.
The club sends its sympathies to his wonderful wife Marie, children John Jnr., Trish, Kay and Claire, grandchildren, sons-inlaw, daughter-in-law, brothers and sisters - and not forgetting great-granddaughter Pippa. A guard of honour was formed by Fermoy Toastmasters members on Monday 12th as John made his last journey into St. Patrick’s Church, Fermoy. Rest well John.