John Bernard Kelly, Jr. was born in Bronx, New York to John Bernard Kelly, Sr. and Marie Senerchia. His paternal grandparents are Bernard Kelly from Drimkeelan, Co. Donegal, and Margaret Canning from Anskert, Co. Leitrim.
After moving to Pearl River in 1956, John graduated from St. Margaret of Antioch Elementary School in 1968, from Bergen Catholic High School in 1972, from Fordham University Business School in the Bronx with a Bachelor of Science in 1976, from Fordham Law School in Manhattan with a Juris Doctorate in 1979, and New York University with a Master of Law in1985.
He currently resides in New City with his wife, Kathryn. He has two wonderful boys, John(Brittany) and Brendan (Courtney), and is a proud Grandfather to Brendan’s two girls, Marie Therese and Anna Rose. After receiving his JD, John joined Deloitte US, which provides auditing, consulting, tax, and advisory services, in 1980 as an Attorney and later as an Attorney-CPA. While still obtaining his Master of Law, he moved to Senerchia & Kelly, Attorneys in 1983 where he continues to work as the principal attorney to this day.
John was in the Boy Scouts of American as a child, from 1961 through 1965. He continues to be active as an adult, from 1996 to present day, holding many local, county, district, and council positions, including being a current member of the New York Archdiocese Committee on Catholic Scouting since 2014. As a member of St. Augustine’s Parish, New City, NY since 1993, John has held many roles in the church. He has been an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion to the Homebound and a Lector at Mass since 2003. He has also been on the Finance committee for the last 3 years and continues to teach Catechism in the Religious Education program since 2018.
The Ancient Order of Hibernians has been a large part of John’s life since 1994. He initially joined AOH Division 5 in Blauvelt, NY, took the Major Degree 2006, and then transferred to AOH Division 3 in Pearl River, NY in 2008. Aside from being very active in all Division 3 and County events, John was Division 3 Treasurer from 2016 through 2020 and has held the position of Freedom for All Ireland Chair since 2020. John was a member of and contributor to the National AOH Freedom for All Ireland Northern Ireland Tours in 2019 and 2024. He has actively participated in the Rockland County St. Patrick’s Day Parade since 2009 and was Aide to the Grand Marshal in the same Parade in 2019. He has also actively participated in the Rockland County AOH Delegation and the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade since 2018 and attends National and New York State AOH Conventions.
John is a proud Irish-Catholic, a dedicated AOH member, and is truly honored to be nominated by his brother and sister Hibernians for 2025 Aide to the Grand Marshal for the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade!
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