John A. Kelly
Encyclopedia
John Andrew Kelly was an American
investigative journalist in Boston, Massachusetts.
suburb of Philadelphia to Francis G. Kelly (1901–1966) and Rose M. (Lally) Kelly (1908–1973). His sister Kathleen was born in 1946. Francis Kelly was a salesman for Corn Products
, which led the family to move to Manchester, New Hampshire
in 1949. In 1952, the family settled in Brighton, Massachusetts and his father continued to work for Corn Products in South Boston. In Brighton, John Kelly attended St. Columbkille School, where he got his inspiration for a humorous story about growing up in parochial school, which was published in The Boston Globe
Magazine in 1973, titled "The Sisters and the Kids"
, on July 1, 1961, aged 17. After basic training, he was deployed to what was then Formosa
, where he started his radio career in Armed Forces Radio. After returning to the United States he was stationed in Maryland. Upon his honorable discharge from the US Air Force, he took a job with Metropolitan Life Insurance and married Michele Larichiuta in 1964.
!n 1968, he joined WCAS (AM) as a reporter and producer of documentaries. In 1969, while working for WEZE, Kelly won an area wide reputation for hard hitting investigative reporting, including the first story on http://thephoenix.com/Boston/News/64388-friends-of-Jack-Kelly/?page=1#TOPCONTENT Senator Ted Kennedy's involvement in the Chappaquiddick incident involving Edward Kennedy
three hours before any other station in the country had the story.
In 1970, he joined WBZ (AM)
News, where he significantly contributed as investigative reporter for several years, earning awards for excellence in reporting from United Press International
.
Kelly joined WNAC-TV
in 1974 as an investigative reporter.
in 1978, aged 34. He is survived by his wife, four children, and one sister.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
investigative journalist in Boston, Massachusetts.
Early life
Kelly was born in the Drexel HillDrexel Hill, Pennsylvania
Drexel Hill is a census-designated place in Upper Darby Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. Drexel Hill is located southwest of Center City, Philadelphia and is part of the Philadelphia metropolitan area...
suburb of Philadelphia to Francis G. Kelly (1901–1966) and Rose M. (Lally) Kelly (1908–1973). His sister Kathleen was born in 1946. Francis Kelly was a salesman for Corn Products
Corn Products International
Corn Products International, Inc. is an Illinois-based refiner and processor of corn-based food additives and sweeteners. It operates factories in 15 countries.- Company :...
, which led the family to move to Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester is the largest city in the U.S. state of New Hampshire, the tenth largest city in New England, and the largest city in northern New England, an area comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It is in Hillsborough County along the banks of the Merrimack River, which...
in 1949. In 1952, the family settled in Brighton, Massachusetts and his father continued to work for Corn Products in South Boston. In Brighton, John Kelly attended St. Columbkille School, where he got his inspiration for a humorous story about growing up in parochial school, which was published in The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993...
Magazine in 1973, titled "The Sisters and the Kids"
Military service
After graduating St. Columbkille School, John joined the U.S. Air Force. He left Brighton for basic training at Lackland AFBLackland Air Force Base
Lackland Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located west-southwest of San Antonio, Texas. The base is under the jurisdiction of the 802d Mission Support Group, Air Education and Training Command ....
, on July 1, 1961, aged 17. After basic training, he was deployed to what was then Formosa
Formosa
Formosa or Ilha Formosa is a Portuguese historical name for Taiwan , literally meaning, "Beautiful Island". The term may also refer to:-Places:* Formosa Strait, another name for the Taiwan Strait...
, where he started his radio career in Armed Forces Radio. After returning to the United States he was stationed in Maryland. Upon his honorable discharge from the US Air Force, he took a job with Metropolitan Life Insurance and married Michele Larichiuta in 1964.
Career
In 1967, the family moved to Brighton, Massachusetts, where he worked for Ross Laboratories.!n 1968, he joined WCAS (AM) as a reporter and producer of documentaries. In 1969, while working for WEZE, Kelly won an area wide reputation for hard hitting investigative reporting, including the first story on http://thephoenix.com/Boston/News/64388-friends-of-Jack-Kelly/?page=1#TOPCONTENT Senator Ted Kennedy's involvement in the Chappaquiddick incident involving Edward Kennedy
Edward Kennedy
Edward Kennedy may refer to:*Ted Kennedy, Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy , United States Senator from Massachusetts*Edward Kennedy , journalist who first reported the German surrender in World War II*Edward Kennedy, Jr., son of U.S...
three hours before any other station in the country had the story.
In 1970, he joined WBZ (AM)
WBZ (AM)
WBZ is the call sign for an AM radio station in Boston, Massachusetts owned by CBS Radio, itself owned by the CBS Corporation. Originally based in and broadcast from Springfield, Massachusetts, WBZ was the first commercial radio station in the United States...
News, where he significantly contributed as investigative reporter for several years, earning awards for excellence in reporting from United Press International
United Press International
United Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century...
.
Kelly joined WNAC-TV
WNAC-TV
WNAC-TV is the Fox-affiliated television station for the state of Rhode Island and Bristol County, Massachusetts licensed to Providence. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 12 from a transmitter on Homestead Avenue in Rehoboth, Massachusetts...
in 1974 as an investigative reporter.
Death
John Kelly died in the Blackfriars MassacreBlackfriars Massacre
The 1978 Blackfriars Massacre was an American Mafia massacre that occurred on June 28, 1978 in Downtown Boston in Boston, Massachusetts. The massacre claimed four criminals known to the police and a former Channel 7 Boston television investigative news anchorman and reporter, John A. Kelly. The...
in 1978, aged 34. He is survived by his wife, four children, and one sister.