Eugene Kelly

It is with great sadness, yet with immense thankfulness for his beautiful life, that we share the passing of Eugene “Gene” R. Kelly, age 64, of Wayne, on Saturday, October 25, 2025.

Gene was the firstborn of Eugene and Assunta “Susan” (D’Amato) Kelly’s two sons. Born in Jersey City, he moved with his family to Wayne three years later and lived in the family home at 43 Mandeville Drive for nearly his entire life - relocating only in 2022 to Pompton Lakes. Alongside his younger brother, Joe, the family spent many summers traveling the United States in their pop-up trailer. By the time they were done, they had probably been in or through at least 40 of the nation’s 50 states—without ever once asking, “Are we there yet?” (Well…maybe once.) Everytime they crossed a border, there would be a thrusting forward of hands on the dashboard to claim who was "first" in that particular state. They also cherished weekends spent at their permanent trailer in the Poconos.

Gene graduated from Wayne Hills High School, Class of 1981, where he had a blast serving as manager of the basketball team for all four years. Decades later, he could still recall key plays from standout games with laser accuracy—whether you asked him or not. After high school, he earned his associate’s degree from Edward Williams College, where he graduated in 1984 and his bachelor’s degree in history from Fairleigh Dickinson University, where he graduated in 1986—no surprise, given his lifelong passion for the subject.

Gene enjoyed a remarkable thirty-eight-year career as a maintenance worker with King’s Supermarkets. From 1987 to the present, he served many years at the Wayne store and most recently at the Verona location.

A deeply spiritual man, Gene was devoted to God and to his lifelong parish, Our Lady of Consolation Church in Wayne. He served enthusiastically as an usher, a Eucharistic minister both at Mass and in local nursing homes, and as a Sunday collection counter. Gene loved his parish, often remarking proudly that he had been there since the building was first constructed.

Gene’s memory was legendary. It fueled his love for history and his uncanny ability to recall the past. Fiercely proud to be an American, he could frequently be found wearing patriotic shirts and—almost without exception—a baseball-style cap. He devoured book after book on U.S. history, could name exact dates of major events, and remembered precisely where he was during the notable moments of his own lifetime. He especially admired Abraham Lincoln, proudly sharing a birthday with “Honest Abe.” When his grandmother won a trip to Hawaii, she brought Gene and his cousin along. And though Gene did try a little surfing, what thrilled him most was visiting the historic site of the Pearl Harbor bombing.

Gene loved sports - especially the New York Yankees, the New York Jets, and the New Jersey Devils. Despite his loyalty to Gang Green, he and Joe would often use their dad’s season tickets to catch a Giants game at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford. He was also a dedicated Star Trek fan and enjoyed word search puzzles, shouting out answers during Jeopardy, solving phrases on Wheel of Fortune, and listening to good music – especially The Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel. Throughout his life, Gene was also a collector. It wasn’t necessarily about the items or the reasons; it was the thrill of collecting itself. His baseball cards were his most impressive stockpile - at least in sheer numbers. Ask him if he had a particular card, and he probably couldn’t tell you. Inventory wasn’t his thing - collecting absolutely was.

Gene was a true family man - the greatest storyteller and the family historian. Joe affectionately called him “my personal hard drive,” because whenever he couldn’t remember something, Gene would supply the memory in 1080p detail. He had a huge heart and was generous beyond his personal means. A major fan of video games, he loved old-school classics like Space Invaders, Super Mario Brothers, and Pac-Man. At Christmas, he lit up watching his nephews open new video games from Uncle Gene. Holidays were also about the only time Gene would enjoy a drink - a nice glass of Guinness Stout or maybe a shot (or two) of Bailey’s Irish Cream.

And Gene always had to be the first to deliver breaking news. The story could be splashed across every TV network and social media feed, but Gene would still get to you personally—face-to-face, by text, or maybe with a dramatic tone for effect.

Gene was a loyal friend, evidenced by over forty years of friendship with a core group of high school buddies (George, Chris, Eric, and Andy). Nearly every Saturday night for decades, they gathered to watch movies, enjoy snacks, and drink soda. And when it came to food, Gene never met a fast-food restaurant he didn’t like. Kind, loving, funny, thoughtful—Gene truly would have given you the shirt off his back, a quality modeled consistently by his parents.

Gene was the loving son of Eugene and Susan (D’Amato) Kelly, both of whom predeceased him. He was the dear brother of Joseph Kelly and his wife, Sharon, of Pompton Lakes, the cherished uncle of Ryan and Evan Kelly, and a treasured cousin to many. He also held a special place in his heart for his girlfriend, Kim Welma. They met in high school and remained close until losing touch when Kim moved to Texas. In recent years, they reconnected through mutual friends, gifting them a second chance to rekindle their relationship. Though long-distance, they spoke daily and visited each other a couple of times each year. Gene loved going to Texas to see Kim - and, naturally, to visit the historic Alamo. (Yes, he took notes.)

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In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Gene’s name are asked to consider sending a donation to:

Our Lady of Consolation R.C. Church,

1799 Hamburg Turnpike

Wayne, NJ 07470

For other ways to donate to the ministry of Our Lady of Consolation Church, CLICK HERE.

Please indicate that your gift is in memory of Eugene “Gene” Kelly.