Mark R. "Shark" Kelley

Framingham – When Shark Kelly had to take a leave from his job at Waltham Hospital in February, 1986 to treat the onset of kidney disease his family and his friends rallied around to help and support him . . . and they did it every day until he drew his last breath.

Mark R. "Shark" Kelley was 60 when he died at Newton-Wellesley Hospital on Thursday, January 19, 2017 having been visited by the family and friends he loved so much and who loved him back. His body had been beaten by thirty years of illness but it never robbed him of his spirit.

The origin of the nickname apparently came from the fact that he had a childhood friend also named Mark and Shark became his moniker because it sounded cool. And it did.

A graduate of Waltham High's Class of '75 Mark took a job at Waltham Hospital and on May 16, 1982 he married Newton native Carole A. Ryan in Saint Bernard's Church. The couple lived in Waltham for a time before moving to Newton where they lived for thirty years. A move to Framingham came five years ago.

He was born in Waltham on June 23, 1956, a son of the late Arthur L. and Barbara E. (Hansen) Kelley. Mark loved the game of golf and belonged to several clubs that he dreamed up the names for and that only the members know the meaning of . . . it meant on some level that you were part of 'his crew' . . . and that was a great feeling. He was the founder and member of the 288 Two Gross Club, the Bike Park Gang and the 225 Club.

In addition to his wife of thirty-five years, Carole, Mark leaves his children, Sarah A. Kelley and her companion, Andreas Kalafatopoulos, Pvt. Ryan P. Kelley, USAR, all of Framingham, and Shannon M. and Caitlin A. Kelley, both of Needham; his brothers and sisters, John A. Kelley and his wife, Gayle, of Medway, Robert M. Kelley and his late wife, Winifred, Lakewood, Ohio, Jane M. Kelley (his 'Irish twin') and her partner, Rick Rooney, of Wareham, Paul H. Kelley of Framingham and Barbara A. Malloy and her husband, Lawrence, of Waltham and several nieces and nephews.

Mark was also a brother of the late Kevin L. Kelley.

Family and friends will honor and remember Mark's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Tuesday, January 24th from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Wednesday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Mary's Church, 133 School Street, Waltham where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Waltham.

Consider honoring Shark's memory with a donation to Newton Athletes Unlimited, P.O. Box 66163, Newton, MA 02466 or online at www.newtonathletesunlimited.org