Page 18 - Wayne Dispatch Pages

Thanking Bridget Kelly for over 50 years of serving Wayne

By Sarah Shurge to move closer to them, so I’ll be
“I've lived here for almost 52 moving closer to my son, Patrick,”
years. It's been like home,” said Brid- said Kelly.
get Kelly. To say thank you and honor all of
Kelly and her husband, Tom the service Kelly and her husband
Kelly, moved to Wayne in 1972 from have provided to the City of Wayne, a
New York with their four sons: celebration was held on Tuesday,
Tommy, Patrick, Michel, and Kevin. June 25th, at US12 Bar and Grill.
“We wanted to be in a smaller com- Long-time residents and friends
munity than the city,” said Kelly. “We were present as Wayne Mayor John
had friends here and there was a job Rhaesa presented Kelly with a key to
opening. Tom did the interview and the city. “Bridget has been a great
got the job, so we moved.” asset to the community. She loved
Tom taught at John Glenn High being behind the scenes but she
School, Cherry Hill High School, and made a great impact on the commu-
Wayne Memorial High. He had a pas- nity,” said Mayor Rhaesa.
sion for the community and was on Kelly had no idea she was going
the city council for years. Tom went to be presented with a key. “It was a
on to become a State Representative big surprise. I didn't even know we
for six years (the longest term you had one,” said Kelly. “It was very,very
could serve) and then returned to nice and made me feel good.” Even
the city council afterwards. though Kelly is leaving Wayne, she
Kelly worked with the Sparkey Bridget Kelly receives the key to the City of Wayne by Mayor John Rhaesa. Photo by hopes this won’t officially be good-
Preschool program for a year, and John MacDonald bye. “I'm going to miss everybody
then worked at Roosevelt Mc-Grath For over 50 years, she served as a ways doing something for the city. here, and I hope to come back,” said
Elementary for 10 years. Eventually, member of the Wayne Garden Club, Everyone loved the city.” Kelly. “With all the people I've worked
Tom opened a travel agency, Wayne the Wayne Rotary, and the Friends of Even though Kelly loves the City with and known, I'm grateful for
Metro Travel, where Kelly worked the Wayne Library. of Wayne, the first weekend of Au- their friendship and their care.”
until she retired in the 90s. “My favorite part was the people I gust, she will be leaving Wayne and We thank Kelly for all the work
Just like her husband, Kelly also worked with,” said Kelly. “They were moving out of Michigan. she’s done for the city and wish her
had a passion for the community. so enthusiastic about the city and al- “My children have been urging me the best with her move!

18 · July 2024 · The Wayne Dispatch