Captain John Kelly

Captain John Kelly looks out his window at his beloved Puget Sound with Blake Island directly west, Vashon Island to the south and Bainbridge Island to the north. A maritime historian and sailor who used to build boats for a living, John had to have a view of the water. “I have saltwater in my blood,” he says, his blue eyes staring out at an equally blue April sky. John and his late wife, Jacqueline, were at first reluctant to move from their West Seattle view home into a retirement community, but Jackie needed assisted-living care. They chose The Kenney because it’s in the neighborhood where they both grew up, and some of their friends were already living here.

So, among many new faces were quite a few familiar ones – from school days, from church and from the garden club and other organizations. The couple soon became involved in exercise classes, Bingo games and Monday afternoon socials. John helped clean up the Hobby Shop, which he enjoys and uses often.

“We were made to feel right at home,” he says. The Kenney became home and family, both literally and figuratively. (One of John’s sons is married to the daughter of another Kenney couple, which makes family visits convenient.)

When Jackie died in December 2008, John was so firmly anchored to The Kenney, he didn’t dream of moving, except to an independent living apartment in the historic Seaview Building. There, he not only has a view, but has continued to find many new friends.