Rev. Elias M. Kelly, CSV, athletic director of St. Viator College in Bourbonnais, Illinois, for 20 years and a former superior of the Viatorian Seminary at Catholic University, died of cancer on the April 5, 1959 at Providence Hospital. He was 77.
A native of Chicago, Fr. Kelly coached baseball at St. Viator from 1915 until 1925. His college was part of a league which included teams from the University of Notre Dame and the University of Illinois. He was also dean of men and a close friend of Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, who studied at the college.
In Washington during the 1940’s, he trained men for the priesthood as director of the Viatorian Seminary at Catholic University. From 1951 until he retired in 1957, he was director of the St. Thomas Vocational School in Savannah, Georgia.
He is survived by two brothers, Frank E. Kelly and Richard E. Kelly.
Solemn Requiem Mass was offered April 9, 1959 at St. Viator Church at 11a.m. by the Very Rev. John F. Brown, provincial, assisted by the Rev. Matthew J. Noonan, CSV, as deacon, and the Rev. John W. Shiels, CSV, subdeacon. The Rev. Thomas E. Fitzpatrick, CSV, delivered the sermon. Burial was at Queen of Heaven cemetery.
Taken from obituary published in The Washington Post and Times Herald dated April 5, 1959 and obituary of unknown origin.