Edward J. Kelly 1928 - 2005

Though he attended White Sox games with his uncle, Mayor Edward J. Kelly, he never seemed to mind that his children are Cubs fans.

Edward J. Kelly, of Glenview died Thursday at this home. He was 77. Though he shared the family’s love of politics, he directed his energies towards public service through volunteering. Through St. John Fisher Church in Beverly, he worked with the Holy Name Society. Once he moved to Glenview in 1968 following the sale of Kelly Kornbeef, Kelly delivered for Meals on Wheels, and spent numerous holidays and weekends on behalf of the Little Brothers of the Poor, visiting the elderly and shut-ins on Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, taking them to luncheons or to the organization’s summer cottages in Rochelle. He was the Head Usher at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Glenview.

Mr. Kelly also worked tirelessly on behalf of the mentally retarded, working with the Association of Retarded Citizens, and served for a time as the president of the Lincoln Parents’ Association, which advocated for the parents of residents of the state-run Lincoln Developmental Center.

Following his wife Barbara’s death in 1997, Kelly joined the Volunteers of Helping Hands of Glenview, which provides transportation to seniors and people with disabilities, mostly for medical appointments. His efforts led to his being named Volunteer of the Year in 1999 in Glenview.

After his graduation from Campion Jesuit High School and the University of Notre Dame, he served in the United States Navy and Reserves until retirement at the rank of Commander. He also taught and served as an administrator for the Gabriel Richard Institute, a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to help people develop practical leadership skills.

He is survived by his wife Dorothy, children Marguerite (Bill) Fobes, Michael (Susan Balciulis), the late Timothy, Martha (James) Rose, Laura (Remo) Zanocco, Kevin (Annmarie), Peter (Janice), Gregory (Tania), and thirteen grandchildren. Visitation at N H Scott & Hebblethwaite Funeral Home, 1240 Waukegan Rd, Glenview from 4 until 8, Tuesday. Funeral Mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Glenview at 10 Wednesday followed by internment at All Saints Cemetery, Des Plaines.

From the Chicago Tribune:
Although he firmly had a place in the business world, his heart was devoted to helping others. "I know that his family's background in politics--his uncle was Mayor Edward J. Kelly- -and his faith played a big part in his volunteering his time, and he also was always one to tell people to take care of their neighbors just as much as themselves," said his youngest son, Gregory. Mr. Kelly, 77, retired vice president of factory operations for General Bandages Inc. in Morton Grove, died of cancer Thursday, June 30, in his Glenview home.

What We Did on Our Summer Vacation

The wife and I stayed at the Renaissance Aruba for our honeymoon, and a had a fun time. We did not find Natalee Hollaway, but I am sure she is, as the LHPDW said, she was sold into white slavery.

Anyway, it was not a Five Star Resort, but was real nice and perfect for those who leave their pretentiousness at the door. Checking in and out was no problem, and a brief island blackout was handled real well.We stayed at the Ocean Suites, which are simply large rooms, with a separate bedroom. The rooms were nice, nothing ridiculously different, and had a refrigerator, freezer, wet bar, and microwave. Our refrigerator was dialed way down, but no big deal.True, the hotel is next to the Marketplace, an assortment of shops and yes, a Wendy’s and Sbarro, but they didn’t ruin my trip. In fact, it made for a real quick, cheap meal.

The private island is nice, but the beach has a breakwater which cuts way down the number of waves that come in. Yes, planes do fly low over the beach, but only the most picky find that a bother. The flamingos and lots of lizards were fun to watch.We stuck mostly to the pool area, with lots of friendly people and a convenient bar nearby.The biggest highlight on Aruba was the absence of “island time,” the often interminable wait for basic things at meals and at the bar. Didn't happen ONCE!

We also checked out the Seaport Casino, which reminded me of riverboat casinos back home. The waiters were beyond attentive, and the tourists there were fun, as were most of the dealers. One drawback was that the locals who played there seemed to be there more out of desperation than just some fun. I noticed less of that at the Crystal Casino up the street.

We ate at LG Smith’s restaurant at the main Renaissance, and it was typical upscale steakhouse. The Gaucho was derided as a tourist trap by some snobby types we met, but we enjoyed it. After all, we were tourists. The dining highlight, and possibly the overall highlight of the trip was the Flying Fishbone restaurant. It is a $19 cab ride each way, but the food and atmosphere were top notch, especially for romantics. The tables are literally on the beach, with some feet getting wet. The food was great, with the steamed mussels and crème brulee highlights. It doesn’t hurt that the staff there were some of the most beautiful and attentive women I have ever seen. Iguana Joe’s offers good sandwiches and colorful boozy drinks.

We Got Married

What more can you say?