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James Kelly Obituary
December 21, 1929 ~
May 16, 2020
Jim died peacefully of natural causes on May 16, 2020 in the Skilled Nursing Unit of Mirabella Seattle. He and his wife of 30 years, Seeley Dole Chandler, moved to Mirabella, Seattle in 2009. He was very active at Mirabella Seattle both within the Mirabella Community and in Seattle. Jim grew up in Cincinnati and graduated with honors from the University of Cincinnati in1953. He received his PhD in Clinical Psychology in1958 from the University of Texas in Austin. He spent 2 years in a post doctoral fellowship at Mass General Hospital under Erich Lindemann, Phd/MD, after which he completed a Master's Degree in Public Health at the Harvard School of Public Health. He went on to be one of the developers of a new field of psychology: Community Psychology. Jim was recognized and appreciated most for his huge contribution to the field of Community Psychology. His early and longstanding leadership along with his empirical research and exemplary authored publications, established principles for the field and theoretical points of view. His work both formed and influenced Community Psychology for more than 50 years. Over his professional life, he held positions in Community Psychology at Ohio State University, U. of Michigan, the U. of Oregon, and finally, at the University of Illinois in Chicago. He was an active researcher and contributed books and articles to the field of Community Psychology. He was the first President of the Division of Community Psychology. within the American Psychological Association and received several professional awards, all the while training and mentoring many graduate students in the field, some of which became his good friends and co-authors. In later retirement he played tennis and learned to play the vibraphone.
In addition to his wife, he leaves behind 5 children and their spouses, 5 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild; also his ex-wife, Sue Rombach Kelly.
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Memories and Condolences
for James Kelly
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Maurice (Mo) Elias
May 25, 2021
Jim Kelly was my professional mentor and inspiration. I teach his theories and wisdom to my community psychology graduate and undergraduate students every semester and I have been doing so for over 41 years. I think of Jim every day and he has had a lasting and profound influence on my personal and professional identity. I am a believer in his theory of social ecology and the deep understanding that jazz give us about the world of innovation and implementation of intervention. Finally, his classic paper, "T'aint what you do, it's the way you do it," lives on as the embodiment of community psychology and the field and Jim's shared commitment to human dignity. What an extraordinary scholar, colleague, mentor, friend, and human being!
Jeff Rice
July 3, 2020
I used to be Jim's tennis coach up to a few months ago. He is awesome! He was always looking to improve and gave me updates on how his doubles play would go for the week. He loved to play and worked hard on his game! I know he worked out almost every day and we would work on improving his movement every lesson. He was so fun to be around and had a great personality. I will miss spending time with him. He lived an amazing life!
Dennis Mohatt
June 26, 2020
Jim my undergrad advisor at Oregon, and my most significant non-family mentor. He engaged as a friend who cared, who took joy from my efforts. We stayed connected the next 40 years. Last year I was blessed to receive the same Distinguished Practice Award in Community Psychology he had received in 1978...what a joy it was to see him at the conference in Chicago, and be one of the voices to lend my gratitude for his mentorship. I am so blessed our paths crossed, and our journeys intersected routinely from then on. A Quaker thought leader, George Fox, said "Let Your Life Speak", and I can attest Jim's life sang. "I have spent my life. Seeking all that's still unsung. Bent my ear to hear the tune. And closed my eyes to see Robert Hunter/Jerry Garcia
Sharon Telleen
June 20, 2020
I am grateful for the years I knew Jim Kelly as a faculty colleague at the University of Illinois at Chicago. I saw the major impact he had on the University and those he worked with. His impact came in many ways-through the way he lived his values in all aspects of his professional life; through his mentoring of faculty and students; through his advising and teaching; and through his seminal writings and research. He will probably be best remembered for his role in the development of a new field of psychology-community psychology. Because Jim saw its unique role In the field of public health, he greatly influenced my work as a psychologist in the School of Public Health.
After I met Jim I realized that UIC was not the first time our paths crossed. His lovely, spirited and creative daughter, Sharon Kelly, was a student in my sixth grade class in the early 70s at Burns Park School in Ann Arbor. Sharon brought such positive energy.
Jim and family will always be in my heart and memory.
Rhona Weinstein
June 4, 2020
June 4, 2020
Jim Kelly has been a tremendous influence on my career as a community psychologist. I have read every article as well as all the books that he wrote. Thinking ecologically became part of my nature, as a result of his keen observations about the relationships between individuals and social settings. Further, he nurtured so many generations of community psychologists, through mentoring them, through providing vehicles for their development. Not only a key founder of the field, he became the field's historian, in preserving the voice and presence of the founding leaders in video-taped interviews, a precious resource. I also appreciated his balanced life, engaged in broad reading, tennis, and jazz. His passing leaves an incredible void but also a great legacy.
Mo elias
June 2, 2020
When I was a graduate student, Jim Kelly's articles on social ecology opened my eyes to systemic thinking. When I was a new faculty member, Jim Kelly agreed to participate in an APA symposium in 1982 to help attract other luminaries to the panel and make it viable, to help my career. And when I was SCRA President and I was unsure about a decision to make or, more importantly, a process to use, I could always count on Jim Kelly's advice. He was so generous with his wisdom-- my career would not be the same if not for his tremendous influence. And for the past 40 years, I have been trying to impart Jim's wisdom to my students. I will miss him, but he always will be with me.
Julie Pellman
June 2, 2020
As all community psychologists, one could not have graduated without reading Jim Kellys work. His brilliance will be sorely missed
Steve Stelzner
June 2, 2020
I know Jim as an historical figure and inspiration to many in Community Psychology, including myself. But more importantly Jim had a profound influence on me personally and professionally as a mentor, a collaborator in writing, and as a friend. He is one of the kindest, most thoughtful people I have ever known. I will miss our all too infrequent phone conversations, which always made me feel better about the world and life.
Irma Serrano Garcia
June 2, 2020
Jim was one of the founders of Community Psychology, a field I have grown to love. Some years back he invited me to share my story in a book he wrote about community psychologists which he thought could be a model for others. That distinction coming from him was particularly meaningful. In the process of writing he was always careful in his input but challenging and critical. I learned a lot from him and although I did not have as frequent a connection as others in the field I always appreciated this experience as well as the many thought provoking and seminal contributions he made to the community psychology. My solidarity to his family and friends. May he rest in peace.
Fred Heidrich
May 31, 2020
What a poignant moment seeing your smiling face in the newspaper, albeit in the obits. Always gracious, thoughtful, perceptive. You lived life well, and I enjoyed each of our encounters.
Bill Huenefeld
May 31, 2020
I can imagine that this was the Jim Kelly who was a hero of mine as the star end of the University of Cincinnati football team from 1947 to 1950. If he was not the team captain, he should have been. He was well liked as a football player and as a person.
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