A Mass of Christian Burial for Marianist Brother Robert Kelly, 84, was held at Queen of Apostles Chapel Feb. 7. A Marianist brother for 60 years, he died Feb. 1 in Dayton.

The Brooklyn native served in locations around the globe during service in the U.S. Navy during World War II and a 45-year career in education.

In 1947 Brother Kelly entered the novitiate at Beacon, N.Y. His scholasticate years were spent at Maryhurst in Kirkwood, Mo., Mount St. John in Dayton, and the University of Dayton, where in 1951 he received a bachelor’s degree in education. He professed perpetual vows in 1952 at the University of Dayton.

He later earned a master’s degree in education from Ohio State University and began his teaching career in 1952 at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary School in Dayton. Brother Kelly then taught and served as an assistant principal, principal and school business manager at Cathedral Latin School in Cleveland, Chaminade High School in Dayton, Hamilton High School in Hamilton and Memphis Catholic High School in Tennessee.

He also was director of the first Marianist community in Memphis.

In 1967, he was one of three Marianists sent to establish the first Marianist community and school in Dublin, Ireland. He later served at St. Joseph College in Yokohama, Japan, where he taught and was principal and a member of the school’s board of directors. Health issues brought him back to the United States in 1996.

A continual decline in health due to complications from diabetes necessitated his move in 2002 to St. Leonard in Centerville. He later moved to Mercy Siena Retirement Community in Dayton.

He is survived by a brother, Hugh, and a sister, Catherine, both of Brooklyn.

Interment was in Queen of Heaven cemetery at Mount St. John in Dayton.