Ferdinand Kelly

Ferdinand P. Kelly, a Catonsville resident, died at Morningside House of Ellicott City on May 3, 2009. He was 90.

Born on Preston Street in Baltimore, Mr. Kelly graduated from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. During his high school years, he worked as a caddy at Mount Pleasant golf course.

After enlisting in the Army, Mr. Kelly was initially based at Fort Riley, Kan., with the horse cavalry.

Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, he entered Officer Candidate School at Aberdeen Proving Ground, where he was commissioned by Vice President Henry Wallace.

Mr. Kelly was deployed to the Pacific Theater for 30 months, serving in New Caledonia, the Philippines and Guadalcanal.

He was promoted to the rank of captain and commended with a Bronze Star, Philippines Liberation Medal, Asiatic Pacific Service Medal and World War II Victory Medal.

Subsequently, Mr. Kelly was employed by several architectural and engineering firms during the day while attending McCoy College and Maryland Institute of Art at night.

By 1954, he founded Ferdinand P. Kelly & Associates. His company designed numerous churches, schools, banks, commercial and public buildings.

Among his architectural innovations was St. Philip Neri Church, Linthicum. It was the first area church with a nontraditional, octagonal layout, designed to move the congregation closer to the focal point of worship.

Mr. Kelly strove to make his firm a leader in improving Baltimore's quality of life.

He belonged to the American Institute of Architects and the National Panel of the American Arbitration Association.

As a strong advocate of community service, Mr. Kelly volunteered on the boards of numerous organizations, including Stella Maris Hospice, Florence Crittenden Home and AAA of Maryland, where he served as chairman from 1973-84.

He previously led the parish council at St. Mark Church, where he was an active parishioner.

During his retirement years, Mr. Kelly dedicated much of his time to investing. He avidly read the financial sections of the Baltimore Sun and Wall Street Journal, family members said.

He sponsored many family vacations to Europe, Mexico and Bermuda.

He is remembered by his wife of 61 years, Lucille Bartell Kelly; children Mark Kelly, of Lutherville; Gary Kelly, of New York City; Brian Kelly, of Roland Park; Kevin Kelly, of Alna, Maine and Julie Kelly, of Catonsville.

Also five grandchildren, Caitlin, Alison, Shane, Erin and Madeline Kelly plus Annabelle Derr, his sister.

On May 7, 2009, a Mass of Christian Burial was offered in St. Mark Church.

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