Kelly Moynihan started the family’s connection with SJU, living in residence for three years during his studies towards a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. Unable to secure a spot in residence at SJU, Kelly enlisted the help of his father, Terry, to plead his case with the Director of Residence; they drove up to Waterloo and convinced him that Kelly would make a great addition to the SJU community. The rest is history. Kelly, who moved into the men’s residence in September 1975, can still name his roommates (Gerry and Mike Cockburn) and room numbers  (311, B7 and B4). Over his next three years at SJU, Kelly enjoyed the camaraderie and convenience of living in residence, all the while making lifelong friends like Bob Feick (BMath ’79) and Joanne (BSc ’79). Kelly was also on the SJU Bagbiters football and hockey teams and participated in residence activities like Oktoberfest, playing snow football and attending weekend liturgies.

What Kelly appreciated most about SJU was that it allowed him to explore what it meant to be Catholic and to grow in his faith on his own terms. This helped shape him into the spiritual man he is today. SJU taught him that each individual has special, valuable skills and talents and instilled in him the importance of making good decisions that are in keeping with his own values. The word that describes his time at SJU is community. What Kelly didn’t know at the time was that he was founding a Moynihan family tradition at St. Jerome’s.

After graduation, Kelly set out for the University of Calgary, where he got his Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry. Then it was off to Oxford for a postdoctoral fellowship. Before he knew it, he was working for Esso in Sarnia, and a couple of years later he found himself in Esso’s Research Department in Calgary. Since 1990, he has been a full-time environmental scientist. In 1995, Kelly accepted a foreign assignment with Exxon Production Research Company (now ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company). A highlight of his career has been working on the Chad Export Project to develop oilfields in southern Chad (in west-central Africa) and transport the oil using a 1000-kilometre pipeline across neighbouring Cameroon for export to world markets. As part of the project, potable water wells were set up so the community had access to clean drinking water, rather than having to travel long distances to collect water. Kelly grew both personally and professionally during this time, including learning more about malaria and HIV/AIDs and how to treat them. This exciting career has taken him to 21 countries (he has visited 10 others on his own time) and every continent except Antarctica (that’s on his retirement bucket list).

Kelly and his wife, Kathy, are the proud parents of three adult daughters, Jaci, Nicki and Sandi, who excel in many different ways. Jaci is a chemical engineer; Nicki is very involved in the Special Olympics and volunteers at a seniors’ residence; and Sandi is studying journalism/communications on an athletic scholarship at George Washington University.