- Date Of Birth: July 15, 1944
- Date Of Death: September 2, 2021
- State: New Jersey
On September 2, 2021, Retired narcotics detective John Kelly, born July 15, 1944 in Jersey City to Lawrence and Ellen (Squires) Kelly, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family at his home. John was a proud native of Bayonne and a dedicated narcotics detective for 27 years.
A job which he took great pride in. He was appointed to the Bayonne Police Department, following in his father’s footsteps, in September of 1967. Responding to an Armed Robbery at a local business near his foot post, he was grievously wounded in September 1968, having been shot multiple times in the neck. He would spend months in the hospital, but recovered and returned to full duty, and be promoted to Detective. John would spend the remainder of his career in the Narcotics Bureau of the Bayonne Police Department.
A friend, leader and mentor to many junior officers, John would retire from the Bayonne Police Department in June of 1994, as the highest decorated officer in the department. After retiring he was a personal body guard for five years. He was happily married to his high school sweetheart, Emily Tencza, on October 12, 1963 at St. Andrew’s Church Bayonne NJ whom he has been married to for 57 wonderful years. He was a dedicated husband and will remain alive in her heart forever.
John enjoyed listening to music from the 1950’s while drinking his favorite beers. He loved being in his secluded home in the mountains of Pennsylvania where he had no neighbors only the turkeys, deer and occasional bear. He is survived by his beloved wife Emily(Tencza), children John (Leslie), Michael (Cheryl) and Christopher (Lorrie). Grandchildren: John Brian (Heather), Ronald (Meghan), Christopher, Megan, Hannah, Tracy, and Jenna (Trevor). Great grandchildren: Parker, AvaGrace, AJ, Adelynn, Jack, Raegan Rose and Haley.
Also survived by his siblings Monica Hartnett, Alicia Smith, Marion Rosario and Therese Garrett and his in-laws: Joanne and Edward Simon and Barbara and Thomas Bilak. He is predeceased by his parents: Lawrence and Ellyn, siblings: Gerald, Austin, Lawrence, Mary, Simon, Jude, Phillip, Christopher, and Ellen Mary. And his sister in law Lorraine Lash and brother in law John Tencza.
