James (Jim) Kelly, 85, of Newtown, formerly of Ridgefield, passed away peacefully on February 1, 2021 after a long illness. Born in Brooklyn, NY on November 19, 1935; a son of the late James Neil and Ann Kelly. Jim graduated St John’s University in June 1959 with a B.A. Degree. He attended Graduate Studies at City College of New York, 1960 - 1962. Jim served with the National Guard at Fort Dix August 1959 to February 1960 and served in the National Reserved until 1962. He married his beloved wife Claudia (Gallagher) in May 1960. Their first apartment was in Flushing, NY before moving to Port Jefferson, NY in 1962. Jim and Claudia moved their young family to Ridgefield where they resided for 43 years before moving to Newtown to be closer to their children. He was an active member of St. Mary Parish in Ridgefield for 43 years, serving as an usher at the 7am Sunday Mass. He was a member of the Church of St. Mary in Bethel for the past six years. Jim’s extensive career in Banking – Human Resources included numerous accomplishments: Board of Directors at Parents Place, Inc., President – American Institute of Banking, Treasurer of Martin Luther King Committee, Treasurer of The Westchester County Alcohol Advisory Counsel, Member of The Bankers Eastern Personnel Association, Member of the New York State Bankers Association, Instructor for the American Institute of Banking, Instructor of the American Bankers Association, Instructor for the Christian Religion Education Program, he was a recipient of The President’s Leadership Award and The Martin Luther King Corporate Award. Retiring after a long career, he joined the Men’s Club of Ridgefield, was a staple in the early morning at the Ridgefield Fitness Center, enjoyed meeting friends and family for breakfast to solve the world’s problems, loved a good game of golf with friends, appreciated reading a good mystery novel, or biography, watching sports, old movies (westerns, in particular, “SHANE”) and debating politics, but most of all, he loved spending time with his family, especially with his four grandchildren who he adored immensely. He loved attending school events, scouting events, cheering them on at their sport events, playing games, jokes, pranks, and just being the overall adoring, fun grandpa (“G-PA”) always competing to be “The Fairest One of All”. Jim is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Claudia; children: Dawn (Kelly) Coughlin and her husband, Matthew of Sandy Hook, CT; Claudia (Kelly) Dene and her husband William of Sandy Hook, CT; James Kelly and his wife, Susan of Danbury, CT. He is also survived by his four grandchildren: Andrew Christopher St. John and fiancée Aerielle Nicole Smith; Nicholas James Kelly; Jessica Leigh Coughlin; and Kelly Marissa Coughlin; his sister Geraldine (Kelly) Chider and her husband Joseph of Wesley Chapel, FL. He is predeceased by his sister Margaret Ann Kelly and brother John Kelly. Due to Covid-19, there will be no calling hours. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Church of St. Mary in Bethel at 11:00am on Friday, February 12, 2021. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to one of the following charities: Regional Hospice https://regionalhospicect.networkforgood.com/projects/44646-making-the-best-of-everyday St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital https://www.stjude.org/donate/ or a charity of your choice. Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown is serving the family.