In Memoriam: John C. Kelly, CPA

The NJCPA mourns the loss of John C. Kelly, CPA, who passed away on Aug. 31 at the age of 82. John, 1990/91 president of the NJCPA, will be remembered for his commitment to maintaining the importance of high professional standards in the accounting profession and for his devotion to his family and local communities.

Throughout his time at the NJCPA, John actively promoted ethical conduct in accounting through his work as chair of the Accounting & Auditing Standards Committee, Finance Committee and Continuing Professional Education Committee. He also was a member of the Board of Trustees and participated in numerous other committees and task forces.

A resident of Singer Island, Florida, and formerly Convent Station, New Jersey, John was the managing partner for the New York Metro office of Arthur Andersen & Co. After Arthur Andersen, he worked as the senior vice president of finance for American Home Products (which later changed its name to Wyeth and was bought by Pfizer). John sat on many boards, including Horizon Healthcare, CR Bard and The Medicines Company.

Always one to give back, John was a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Knights of Holy Sepulcher and the Knights of Malta as well as a CYO basketball coach at St. Thomas More Church in Convent Station. Similarly, he remained a loyal alum to his alma mater, Seton Hall University, where he obtained both his undergraduate and MBA degrees. John was a season ticket holder since the 1960s and a former chair of Seton Hall’s Board of Regents.

John was proud of his Irish heritage, exhibited by his involvement in The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Morris County. He also volunteered at the Newark Boys Choir, The Seeing Eye and the

Commission on Higher Education. He previously served in the U.S. Army.

He is survived by his wife, Linda (Poulson) Scarborough, and her children: Sean (Kelly) Scarborough, Todd (Jenny) Scarborough, and Christopher; his children, Mary Beth (Phillip) Winiarski and Janet (Peter) O’Neill; his brothers Michael and Lee and sisters Lorelei Mastandrea and Margaret (Kerr) Karosen; and his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews.

He is predeceased by his first wife, Mary (Karosen) Kelly, his brother Eugene, sister Jacquelin Ginder, his cousins Joe O’Toole and Brian O’Toole and his parents.