Students Mourn for Michael Kelly

By Matthew Rupel

Michael Kelly will always be known for his big ear-to-ear grin.

Alex Williams, his best friend, said that Kelly not only had his own amazing smile, but had the ability to make everyone else smile as well.

"I first met Michael at the Mass for the LEAD Scholars during our orientation," said Williams. "He came and sat right next to me and he was wearing a Kobe uniform. That's when I knew we were going to be best friends."

He died yesterday in the Redwood City Kaiser Hospital after spending half of the week on life support, according to Director of Campus Ministry Jack Treacy, S.J. 

All week, friends, classmates and faculty described him as a happy person. In front of his house on Bellomy Street is a poster asking students who pass by to sign in Kelly's memory. On the Santa Clara Confessions Facebook page, a recent post is from a student who has never known Kelly but has been inspired by all of the love and support the campus has shown.

Many students and faculty alike were shocked by an email from Treacy stating that Kelly had complications during emergency surgery over the weekend and was not expected to survive. 

The email also announced a prayer service for later that Monday, where about 400 people from the community packed the Mission Church to show love and support for Kelly and his family.

Although people in the crowd had tears in their eyes, the speakers told the audience of the joy that Kelly has brought to the community.

"Peace isn't something you possess for yourself, but something you share with others. Michael has done that here at (Santa Clara)," said Treacy in his sermon.

His friend Williams spoke at a seminar for members of the LEAD Scholars program on Tuesday where people had a chance to express their feelings and experiences with Kelly. 

"He didn't like to drink or party," said Williams, "but he would stay up and wait for his housemates on weekends to make sure they were okay and taken care of. That's the kind of person he was."

In a speech Williams prepared for the seminar, he described Kelly as the "best brother (he) could have ever asked for: someone who saw morals, humor and strength."

Campisi Hall Resident Minister Victor Lemus said that the pair had been "Batman and Robin" since freshman year, when Kelly had lived in Sobrato Hall but spent most of his nights in Campisi Hall. One time, Lemus even saw him carrying a mattress down the hallway.

"I think he would've gotten an award for resident who least sleeps in his own room," Lemus laughed.

Kelly is known to have brought good will to others. He was part of the LEAD Scholars program, a group of students who are the first members of their family to go through college.

Erin Kimura-Walsh, the assistant director of the program, said that Kelly was a rambunctious young spirit on the outside with a compassionate and caring soul on the inside.

"He was just funny-funny, you know, just goofing off with all of the girls and staff, but always in a really genuine and sweet way," she said, "but always foremost in his mind was wanting to make his family proud."

Kelly's parents, Ed and Debbie Kelly, were in the hospital with him since his girlfriend, Jillian Gerrity, called them on Saturday to tell them that he had been taken to the hospital.

Gerrity had been dating Kelly for over two years. Things started between them when they used to walk out of the chemistry class they shared together freshman year.

"There was always something about him. He was different from everyone else for me," she said. "He would see how many times he could make me smile. He always wanted to make everyone else smile."

Contact Matthew Rupel at mrupel@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4849.