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KELLIHER -- James Kenneth Kelliher died June 11, 2004 after a long illness. He was born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1926. He entered the Army in 1944 and was sent to Officers Training School at Fort Benning, Georgia. World War II ended shortly thereafter, and he was sent to Okinawa as an officer handling on-loading and offloading of cargo vessels. Upon returning to this country, Mr. Kelliher attended the University of Missouri and was the top-ranking graduate of his school in 1949. He began a 35-year career with Westinghouse Electric Corporation, where he was a human resources manager in several Westinghouse divisions. His specialty, however, was labor relations, and he was considered one of the company's best contract negotiators. The union representatives did not always agree with him, but they admired him for his honesty and fairness. He was firm but still maintained their respect. Because of transfers within Westinghouse, Mr. Kelliher and his family lived in Pittsburgh, PA, Baltimore, MD, Fairmont, WV, and Livingston, NJ. In those towns he was on boards of many charitable organizations and enjoyed performing in local Little Theater productions. In 1995, Mr. and Mrs. Kelliher left their longtime home in Livingston, NJ and moved to Albuquerque. Mr. Kelliher became a board member of the First Unitarian Church, co-founded the northern New Mexico branch of the Funeral Consumer Alliance, and participated in Vintage Players performances. Mr. Kelliher was beloved by many, including his wife, Marion; and their children and spouses, Laurie Kelliher and Andrew Obelnicki, Daniel Kelliher and Pamela Hoopes, Casey Kelliher and Terry Schile; grandchildren, Henry and Nell Obelnicki, Caitlin and Fiona Kelliher; and Mr. Kelliher's brother, William F. Kelliher of Fresno, CA. A Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday morning, July 1, 2004 at the First Unitarian Church of Albuquerque. Following the service, a reception will be held at the social hall across the patio from the sanctuary. In lieu of flowers, those who wish might choose to contribute to the First Unitarian Church Memorial Fund, 3701 Carlisle Boulevard NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112 or to the Roadrunner Food Bank, 2500 Gibson Boulevard SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106.
        Published on: Wed June 16, 2004