John P. "Jack" Kelley

John P. "Jack" Kelley, 95, of Saco, formerly of Scarborough, ME, and Simsbury, CT, passed away on May 26, 2024 at Seal Rock Healthcare and formerly Atlantic Heights, where he had been a resident for 10 years.  Jack, as he was known to family and friends, was born on July 21, 1928 in Springfield, MA, to John and Margaret Kelley.

Jack graduated from Classical High School in Springfield, MA, and then received a degree in Economics from Tufts University where he graduated as part of the Holloway Plan as a commissioned US Naval officer in 1952.  He was deployed to the Korean War upon graduation and served as a Lieutenant aboard the USS Brown and the USS Badong Strait as the EOD and Special Weapons EOD Nuclear Officer.

After Jack's discharge from the Navy in 1955, he settled in California where he met and married Elizabeth (Betsy) Ann Farren and started their family.  They shared a lifelong love of nature and the outdoors and hiked, canoed, and backpacked throughout much of the United States and Canada.

Jack took a sales position with Colt Manufacturing in Hartford, CT, where he remained until his retirement.  He was awarded the Colt Sharpshooter Award several times, of which he was very proud.

Community involvement was very important to Jack, and he volunteered with Troop 176 Boy Scouts in Simsbury, CT, and at the Roaring Brook Nature Center in Canton, CT.

Upon retirement, Jack and Betsy relocated to Higgins Beach in Scarborough, ME, and Jack immediately found ways to get involved, through St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, as well as serving on the Scarborough Library Board, teaching Cyber Seniors technology classes, and leading gun safety courses. Jack was also well-known for his Higgins Beach Association pancake breakfasts and his famous blueberry pies that were auctioned off each year.

Jack and Betsy moved to Atlantic Heights in Saco in 2014 where Jack led weekly Rosary services, assisted in the library, and served as Vice President of the Residents' Council.  Jack received the Remember ME Lifetime Achievement award through a statewide program for Residents in Assisted Living.

Jack was predeceased by Betsy, his beloved wife of 62 years.  He was also predeceased by his brother Mortimer (Jean) Kelley.  He is survived by his children:  Ann and husband Chris Collacchi of Narragansett, RI, Sean Kelley and wife Janet of Holden, ME, MaryBeth and husband Gordon Shapiro of Dallas,TX, and Scarborough, ME, and Colleen Kelley and husband David Perlmutter of Shutesbury, MA.  Jack is also survived by his grandchildren:  Kelley Collacchi Reardon (Brian), Michael Collacchi (Sofia), Alison Collacchi, Alexandra Shapiro, Laura Shapiro, Hannah Richards (Dan), and great-grandchildren Mia Richards and Lucy Richards.

A mass and celebration of life will be held later this summer. He will have a Naval Burial at Sea.

The family extends their deepest gratitude to the caring and compassionate staff at Seal Rock, Atlantic Heights, and Hospice of Southern Maine.

Donations in Jack's memory may be made to the Scarborough Public Library (https://www.scarboroughlibrary.org/donate) or Hospice of Southern Maine (https://hsm46624.thankyou4caring.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=298)