Beloved West Haven Coach Dies, Community Rallies Around Family

WEST HAVEN, CT — The West Haven community is rallying around the family of a beloved youth hockey coach who died earlier this week. Dan Kelly Jr., who was also well-known for coaching baseball in the city, died Sept. 28 at the age of 52.

Kelly is survived by his wife Michelle and his four sons, along with many other family members, friends, and the West Haven hockey community, according to his obituary.

“Dan loved sports, to play and to coach his boys and the community of West Haven where he was so well known either in hockey or baseball,” the obituary reads. “Dan was always the first at the rink and last one to leave. He never missed any of the boys’ games, no matter what sport. No matter what the boys did, he was always proud. The question everyone will always remember is ‘Who are we?’”

Members of West Haven Youth Hockey have launched a GoFundMe page to help support Kelly’s family with future expenses, including college and bills.

“The hockey rink for most kids is a getaway from real life, they get to go play a game they love, be with their friends and be influenced by some great coaches that would do anything to not only make them a better hockey player, but a better person in general,” reads a post on the page, which was created by Jeff Guarino. “West Haven lost one of those coaches this week in the passing of Dan Kelly. He was one of a kind. He always brought the best out of a kid, he’d brighten their day with his laugh and always went the extra mile to do whatever it took to get them better on the ice. He genuinely cared for all the kids he coached, and was a great father to his four boys and loving husband to his wife Michelle.

“It is now our time to give back to Coach and his family. We are raising money to help out the family with future expenses that will come up with college, bills, and other expenses.”

More than $13,000 has been raised within the first two days of the campaign, as of Friday afternoon.

For more information or to make a donation, visit the GoFundMe page here.

Donations can also be made to The Kelly Children Fund (made out to: Michelle Kelly), c/o Gifty Annan, People's Bank, 200 Capt. Thomas Blvd, West Haven, CT 06516.

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