Tom Kelley, longtime diocesan volunteer, dies at 83

COLORADO SPRINGS. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated July 5 at St. Patrick Church for Tom Kelley, who died May 30 at age 83.  Inurnment followed at Mount St. Francis Columbarium. Kelley served on many parish committees at both Holy Apostles Parish and St. Patrick Parish, as well as the diocesan Building and Properties Committee. He was born in New York City on April 3, 1934. He graduated from Fordham University in 1956 and entered the U.S. Army in 1957, serving as a specialist in counterintelligence at bases around the country and in Vietnam. His decorations included the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star medal. He retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1977 and worked in the fields of purchasing, operations management and traffic management for a number of companies in Colorado Springs. As a founding member of Holy Apostles Parish, he served as its business manager and first pastoral council president. He also served as chairman of the building committee at St. Patrick Parish and was the project manager for the parish during its multi-million dollar expansion and remodeling project from 2001-2005. Kelley volunteered as an English as a Second Language instructor with Catholic Charities. Kelley is survived by three children and six grandchildren.