Leo Kelly

Leo J. Kelly, of Houghs Neck, passed away on Sunday, December 15, 2019 at age 87. A lifelong Houghs Neck resident, he was Korean War Veteran U.S. Navy. He started his lifelong community service in Leo's barber shop in Houghs Neck. Before retiring in 2014, city councilor Leo Kelly served nine terms (1973-1983 and 2003-2009) on the Quincy city council. Among his accomplishments, he was proud of helping start the Manet Community Health Center in Houghs Neck, which has since expanded to five sites. Passionate about preserving open space, Leo was instrumental in stopping the topping and filling in of Quincy Bay and ending plans to build the Nut Island sewage treatment plant there and working to preserve open spaces at the Granite Rail, Little Granite Quarry and General Palmer Park, plus acres of other marshland, including Broad Meadows and Brill Field. For 10 years he was the project manager for the Quincy Housing Authority and continued to serve on the Commission Board, helping residents with their problems. He helped with the oversight of the new Quincy High School and the Community Centers in Houghs Neck and Germantown. He was also a Board Member of Quincy Community Action and District Chair of the Blue Granite Rail Council, Quincy Boy Scouts. The Houghs Neck Garden Club honored him with the Leo J. Kelly Park. In the end, Leo was a passionate shopper at Home Goods. The beloved husband of Margaret Milne-Kelly, Leo was the loving step-father of Lynne McKeever and her husband Brian of Quincy and Jill M. Gichuhi of Quincy; dear brother of John Kelly, Bernadette Kelly, both of Quincy, and the late Robert , Edward and Joseph Kelly; and is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Family and friends are invited to visiting hours which will be held on Thursday, December 19, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Dennis Sweeney Funeral Home, 74 Elm St., Quincy Center. On Friday there will be a gathering at the funeral home at 9 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. at Holy Trinity Parish, Most Blessed Sacrament Church, 1015 Sea St., Quincy. Burial with Military Honors is at Mount Wollaston Cemetery. Donations in Leo's memory may be made to the Germantown Neighborhood Center, 366 Palmer St., Quincy, MA 02169 or the Quincy Garden Club, Attn: Patty Williams, 1193 Sea St., Quincy MA 02169. Please visit dennissweeneyfuneralhome.com

Published in The Patriot Ledger on Dec. 18, 2019

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Sent to The Sun, Houghs Neck Bulletin , Sweeney, and Facebook ,Joe

Leo Kelly will always be remembered by us, and everyone privileged to know him, as that rare and remarkable individual who served his neighborhood and city with amazing dedication and effectiveness in so many ways. He was a true public servant. He literally turned the term “open space” into an action verb. He led the way to “open space” so many threatened, special areas in Ward 1 and throughout the city. Every time we and our family walk around “The Crusher” in Houghs Neck we are so grateful to Leo for preserving this special area. When we swim in and boat on Quincy Bay and enjoy the islands we remember it was Leo who led the Harbor clean up, and helped change Nut Island from a health hazard to a wonderful recreational park. Innumerable folks of all ages benefited from his commitment to healthcare, bringing compassionate comprehensive primary care to Houghs Neck and Germantown via Manet Community Health Center. He was likewise committed to assuring quality housing through his work with the Quincy Housing Authority. His good works have made a lasting improvement in the quality of life all over Quincy.

 What an amazing legacy of caring and commitment that will endure!

Leo, you have our respect and gratitude always.

Mike Cotter, Writer of “The Nut Island Blues” 1976

Cyndy Roche-Cotter, First Nurse and Nurse Practitioner Manet Community Health Center ,Houghs Neck 1979- 2008