Robert Kelly

SARASOTA, FL - Robert "BK" Kelly, 72, passed away peacefully on November 16, 2015 after a long illness as he and his granddaughter Beatrice sang "Amazing Grace" together. Bob was the beloved husband of Sheila (Downes) Kelly for 52 years. He was the cherished father of Shawn, Kevin, and Tim Kelly and father-in-law to his daughters-in-law Allison and Wendy Kelly. He was the loving grandfather to his nine grandchildren Shannon, Megan, Ryan, Dylan, Earle, Payton, Beatrice, Abigail and Lucy, and is also survived by his brother Pat and sisters MaryAnn McCormick and Joan Campetelle. He was preceded in death by his brother Mike and his parents Alfred and Rose (Wood) Kelly. Bob grew up in Rensselaer and attended St. John's Academy where he met Sheila and they graduated together in 1961. Bob had a long and successful career with Helene Curtis rising to V.P. of sales and then President of the International Division, moving to London for four years. His last position was with Wahl Clipper Company as the Sr. V.P. of Sales & Marketing. Before Bob passed away he told Sheila he had two wishes. First was to bring all their children and grandchildren back to Rensselaer so that they wouldn't forget their roots. The second was he wanted donations to go to the Will-to-Live Foundation (www.will-to-live.org) which was established to raise awareness and prevention of teen suicide after BK and Sheila's own Godson Will took his life at 15. Will's dad John Trautwein leads the organization in Atlanta, which is truly run "by the kids, with the kids, for the kids" under his guidance. He shared with us at the Florida Celebration of Life that he and his wife Susie said that any donations received in BK's memory, will be divided three ways to be used by the three sets of Kelly grandchildren (in Arizona, Indiana and Florida) to hold a "Will-to-Live" event in each local area. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Memorial Mass to be held at the Church of St. John the Evangelist and St. Joseph Herrick Street in Rensselaer on Tuesday, December 29th at 10 a.m. Burial will be private at the convenience of the family.