WHEREAS, Assemblyman Kelly was born in Jersey City, New Jersey on July 11, 1926 and graduated from Saint Peter’s Preparatory School; and

WHEREAS, Assemblyman Kelly served in the United States Army during World War II as a demolitions expert in the Philippines; and

WHEREAS, after completing his military service, Assemblyman Kelly earned a degree in accounting and finance from Saint Peter’s College in 1951; and

WHEREAS, Assemblyman Kelly served as comptroller, board member, executive vice president, president, and chairman of Nutley Savings and Loan; and

WHEREAS, Assemblyman Kelly was first elected to the New Jersey General Assembly in 1981; and

WHEREAS, during Assemblyman Kelly’s tenure in the Assembly he sponsored legislation that established the first law in the state requiring children under 14 to wear a helmet while riding a bicycle, scooter, or skateboard; and

WHEREAS, during Assemblyman Kelly’s time in the Assembly he also sponsored legislation to require all state insurance companies to provide coverage for mammograms and pap smears and to set standards to license hospice programs; and

WHEREAS, in May 1988, Kelly was elected mayor of Nutley, New Jersey; and

WHEREAS, Assemblyman Kelly was a longtime fixture at Nutley’s Saint Patrick Day festivities and he also played a pivotal role in creating its Columbus Day parade; and

WHEREAS, it is with deep sadness that we mourn the loss of Assemblyman Kelly and extend our sincere sympathy to his wife, his children, his grandchildren, his family, and friends; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting and appropriate to honor the memory and the passing of Assemblyman Kelly;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JON S. CORZINE, Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:

1. The flag of the United States of America and the flag of the State of New Jersey shall be flown at half-staff at all State departments, offices, agencies, and instrumentalities during appropriate hours on Friday, November 13, 2009, in recognition and mourning of the passing of Assemblyman John V. Kelly.

2. This Order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal this 12th day
of November, Two Thousand and Nine, and
of the Independence of the United States, the
Two Hundred and Thirty-Fourth
/s/ Jon S. Corzine
Governor

[seal]

 

/s/ William J. Castner, Jr.
Chief Counsel to the Governor