James (Jim) T. Kelly, Sr., Marmion Academy’s founding swim and diving coach and former faculty member, died February 17, in Leesburg, Fla. at age 83.
Kelly is fondly remembered for his 35 years of dedication to Marmion Academy (1966-2001) in Aurora. In addition to being the founding swim and diving coach, he was a history teacher throughout his tenure at Marmion, aquatic director, bus driver, golf coach, and dean of students (1990-2001).
As swim and diving coach, Kelly guided the Marmion swim team to 12 first place and 10 second place finishes in the Suburban Catholic Conference (SCC). He was coach to a 105 individual and 18 relay team Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State Tournament qualifiers. He was elected to the Illinois Swimming Association’s (ISA) Hall of Fame and was named coach of the year by the SCC many times.
Kelly started the Rosary High School’s successful swim-diving team in 1978 in Aurora and was its first coach. He was a mentor to many other swim coaches across the country. Kelly was graduated from Loyola University, Chicago, on an athletic scholarship as a diver.
He was the aquatics director for clubs in Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, and most notably at the Aurora Country Club, which named its pool the “Jim Kelly, Sr. Aquatic Center”.
Marmion dedicated its 2002 Salute to Youth gala in his honor, but Kelly refused any other honors or naming opportunities at Marmion Academy.
Kelly and wife, Helen, moved to Leesburg, Fla. when he retired from Marmion in 2001.
Jim Kelly is survived by his wife, Helen, two daughters, Jennifer and Maureen, and son Timothy (Marmion Class of 1985). His son, James Kelly, Jr. (Marmion (Class of 1982), preceded him in death by approximately six weeks.
There will be a memorial mass in early Summer at the Marmion Abbey Church; date and time to be announced.
—Marmion Academy