In Memoriam: Kevin Hugh Kelley, 1950-2025

Had A Long and Distinguished Career in the Massachusetts Insurance Industry

Kevin H. Kelley of Norwell, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on August 5, 2025, surrounded by his loving family after a brief illness. A man of deep faith and unwavering strength, Kevin faced his illness with courage and grace. He cherished life and, above all, his family: his beloved wife of 48 years, Maryellen; his daughters, Meghan Kelley, Maura Travers, and Katherine Tobin; his sons-in-law, Patrick Travers and Daniel Tobin; his sister, Christine Patterson; and his adored grandchildren, Cullen, Liam, and Ciara Travers, and Brooke and Connor Tobin, with whom he shared his love of golf and treasure hunts.

Kevin had a distinguished career in the insurance industry, beginning at Fireman’s Fund after graduating from Boston University in 1972. He rose to become president and CEO of Lexington Insurance, later serving as CEO of Ironshore and vice chairman of global risk solutions at Liberty Mutual. After retiring in 2019, he remained active on industry boards, including as non-executive chair of IQUW. Kevin was honored with numerous awards, including induction into the Insurance Business Americas Hall of Fame.

Kevin was deeply committed to education and believed that knowledge and opportunity are essential to advancing social equity. He proudly served as chairman of the board at Cardinal Spellman High School, his alma mater, where he helped lead a transformative shift toward a more innovative, business-minded model. He established impactful scholarship initiatives, including the Health Careers Pathway Program, which enables students to earn college credits and explore career paths while still in high school. Kevin also served as chairman of the board of overseers at St. John’s University’s Greenberg School of Risk Management, where he mentored future leaders in the field. He was a member of the Council on Foreign Relations reflecting his passion for global affairs.

Aside from family, work, and friends, Kevin’s greatest passion was golf. He loved everything about it; the challenge of the game, the beauty of the courses, and most of all the comradery it brought him with fellow golfers. He was fortunate to play many of the great courses around the world, and he never stopped planning to play them all. He was a member at Scituate, Hatherly, New Seabury, and Bonita Bay country clubs. He was also an avid runner, completing 18 marathons, and most recently was committed to logging his miles by walking multiple times a day.