Thomas "Tom" Vincent Kelly

Thomas “Tom” Vincent Kelly Sr., 95, of Emerald Isle passed away Saturday, November 7, 2015 at Crystal Coast Hospice House while surrounded by family.

A funeral mass will be held 11:00 am Tuesday, November 10, 2015 at Saint Egbert Catholic Church. A burial service will be held at a later date by the family in New York.

Tom was born 1920 in Brooklyn, NY and raised in Flatlands. He attended public school and Graduated in 1938 from Samuel J. Tilden high school. Tom joined the US Navy at the outbreak of World War II and spent the entirety of the war fighting in the Pacific. He served on the USS Bushnell (AS-15) and then the submarine, USS Billfish (SS-286). At the end of the war he was honorably discharged having obtained the rank of fire controlman 2nd class.

In 1945 Tom married Eleanor McBride and joined the NYPD. His career with the police ended after 23 years when he retired in 1974 and moved with his wife to Shinhopple, NY.  His loyalty to the department was rewarded with a gold shield. Tom did not stay retired for long and served as the town’s Postmaster; a position that he would hold for 10 years before retiring again. He and his wife moved to Hollywood, FL in 1988 and remained there until her passing in 2004. The last chapter of Tom’s life found him living in Emerald Isle, NC where he could be closer to his children and their families. Tom was known for committing fully to all endeavors that he undertook and this is reflected in all the organizations that he belonged to. A small and incomplete list of these organizations would include the Submarine Vets of WWII, NYPD Honor Legion, NYPD Emerald Society, Holy Name Society, NYPD Detective’s Endowment Association, National Association of Postmasters, Longford Mens Association, Irish American Society, and Ancient Order of Hibernians.

Tom is survived by two daughters, Eleanor M. Simmons and husband Richard of Long Beach, NY, Moira L. Patterson and husband William of Syosset, NY; three sons, Thomas V. Kelly Jr. and wife Maryanne of Raleigh, NC, Owen M. Kelly of Emerald Isle, NC, and John M. Kelly and wife Connie of Franklin, NY and Emerald Isle, NC; grandchildren Alexandra Simmons, Heather Lu, Kathleen Kelly, Thomas V. Kelly III, Maureen Kelly, Liam Patterson, Niall Patterson, Samantha Coffin, Rachael Kelly, Sean Kelly, and Molly Kelly; Great Grandchildren, Sophia Lu, William Lu, Ciara Rose Patterson, and Andrew Kelly; and one sister, Veronica Kelliher.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Eleanor Mary McBride Kelly; grandchild, Aileach Kelly; siblings, Helen Moore, Rita Corbett, Joseph Kelly,  Aloysius Kelly, and James Kelly.

The family will receive friends at 10:00 am, which is one hour prior to the service at the church.

In Lieu of flowers memorial contributions should be made to Crystal Coast Hospice House, PO Box 640, Newport, NC 28570 or Meal on Wheels, c/o All Saints Anglican Church, PO Box 309, Morehead City, NC 28557.