Champion of small businesses, steward of the Maine coast, boat builder and sailor extraordinaire, word maven, skier, lawyer, mechanical engineer and entrepreneur, Jack was the quintessential renaissance man. He had a prodigious mind and a witty sense of humor that kept his family, friends and caregivers afloat right up to the end.
Wise, kind and gentle, Jack gave of himself generously. While he had a long and successful legal career beginning in Cleveland, later in Nashua, NH, and eventually establishing his own legal firm in Wellesley, MA, his greatest professional passion was for the intricacies of small New England manufacturing companies and startups. He established partnerships with a wide and diverse group of people and only recently retired from the boards of Aerodyne Research and Thermal Circuits, two of his favorite endeavors. His associates valued his intelligent counsel, calm demeanor and creative spirit in both day-to-day operations and his vision for growth. He took pleasure and pride in mentoring younger people in their professional development.
As much as Jack loved his working world, the small adventures with the family stand out in his memoir. It was for his growing family that he built the sailboat Sea Urchin. He was a longtime member of Corinthian Yacht Club in Marblehead, MA. Later he purchased a home in Harpswell, ME, where his greatest joy became to sit with Annabelle at his “Pou Sto” and watch the sun set over Middle Bay while the grandchildren played nearby.
Jack is survived by his wife Annabelle Kellogg and their three children: Elizabeth and her husband Peter Stevens of St. Louis, MO; Rebecca and her husband Kevin Dennis of Dedham, MA; and Robert and his wife Susan of Yarmouth, ME; as well as his grandchildren Luke, Charlotte and Bo Dennis and Harry Stevens and wife Denae, and three great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Anne Fries and husband Jef of Acton, MA; his brother Willis Kellogg and wife Nancy of Concord, MA; and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service in celebration of Jack’s life will be held on Saturday, Jan. 30 at 2 p.m. at First Parish Church, 20 Lexington Road, Concord, MA.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Jack’s memory to Trinitarian Congregational Church Youth Group, 54 Walden St., Concord, MA 01742, or Elijah Kellogg Church Scholarship Grant, 917 Harpswell Neck Road, Harpswell, ME 04079.
Arrangements under the care Concord Funeral Home, A Life Celebration Home, Concord, MA. To share a memory or offer a condolence, visit www.concordfuneral.com.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
