Richard Kelly

Richard Lee Kelly, 78, of Cheshire, beloved husband of Carolyn (Weisser) Kelly, passed away after a long battle with metastatic melanoma on April 11, 2025. Richard was born in Cambridge, MA, on August 24, 1946, the son of the late Russell and Muriel Kelly.

Richard received a Bachelor Degree in Business from Point Park College and a Masters from George Washington University in Business Financial Management. After college, Richard joined the US Air Force at the height of the Vietnam conflict, achieving the rank of Captain. He served as Flight Crew Commander on an electronic and radar intelligence system called AWACS. Richard received several awards, among them the Bronze Star with 3 air medals and the Outstanding Unit Award with V and Oak Leaf Cluster. He was very proud of his service to this country.

While stationed in Sacramento, CA, he met and married his wife, Carolyn. After leaving the Air Force, he began a successful career in the Commercial Mechanical Contracting industry. He was employed early on by Limbach Co, and served as President of the Mechanical Contractors Assn. while living in Columbus, Ohio. Richard’s career ended as President of MJ Daly Co. in Waterbury, CT. He and Carolyn moved all over the country and welcomed children Susannah and Adam along the way.

Richard was a long and devoted member of the Cheshire United Methodist Church, serving in many capacities. He was a numbers guy and loved serving as treasurer of CUMC for over 12 years. Participating in the many activities and missions of the church brought him much satisfaction and he had great love for his church family.

Among his hobbies and interests were modeling, trains, breakfast out with good friend, John, investing, and reading. He took great enjoyment in being outside working in the yard…cutting, pruning, mowing, plowing, and he could spend hours doing so. Most of all, he loved being with his granddaughter, Reese, who brought him great joy and who showered him with endless hugs and kisses. He was always proud of his children and their successes. Family gatherings here, or with West Coast relatives, were always special. Vinalhaven, Maine, the island where his mother was born, was the place he returned to time and again and where he felt a great sense of freedom as a kid each summer.

Richard was a man of great integrity and fairness, admiring those who did their job well, no matter their station in life. He gave people the benefit of the doubt and believed in the basic goodness of the individual. He was kind and generous and will be greatly missed.

He leaves behind his loving wife of 52 years, Carolyn, his children Susannah Carter (Hill) and Adam Kelly (Rebecca); his granddaughter, Reese; his sister Donna Doucette (James). He is further blessed to have many loving nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews. He was predeceased by his parents.

Family and friends are invited to pay their respects on Friday, May 2, 2025 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Alderson-Ford Funeral Home, 615 South Main St., Cheshire, CT. A Funeral Service with Military Honors will be held on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 11 a.m. at Cheshire United Methodist Church, 205 Academy Rd., Cheshire, CT. Burial will be private. Memorial contributions may be made to: Memorial Fund, Cheshire United Methodist Church, 205 Academy Rd. Cheshire, CT 06410 or to Disabled American Veterans.