Dr. Don Quinn Kelley

1945 - 2016 Dr. Don Quinn Kelley, 70, of Hancock, MA and New York City, NY, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 27, 2016 in Springfield, Massachusetts, surrounded by his wife, daughter, and close family. He was born in Chicago, IL on September 28, 1945, son of John Quincy Adams Kelley and Jeannette (Fay) Kelley. He graduated from St. Mel High School where he played the clarinet and Loyola University in Chicago. On September 4, 1965, he married Carol Long in Chicago, IL., and subsequently became a father to Marc, David, and Nambi. He received his Ph.D. from Columbia University in 1974 where he was a Ford Foundation Fellow in Educational Leadership and did field work with anthropologist Margaret Mead, and research/filmmaking for psychologist Kenneth B. Clark. On August 26, 1990, also the anniversary of his parent's wedding anniversary, he married Sandra L. Burton in Williamstown, Massachusetts. A historian and filmmaker, Dr. Don Quinn Kelley was a partner in ThinkLarge.org, an organization that implements and supports video and film projects of social relevance. He was also the co-chair of Lift Ev'ry Voice, a festival celebrating African American culture and history in the Berkshires, and Professor Emeritus at City University of New York (CUNY), where he was a founding faculty member of Medgar Evers College. At CUNY, he chaired a Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, directed a Digital Media Center and Evers' history program, created museum partnerships and received national recognition for course syllabi in both American history and Teacher Education. Dr. Kelley was also on the faculty of the graduate Media Studies program at the New School in New York City. As a documentarian, his projects have been screened across the United States, in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. Other activities have included human rights and sustainable development projects in the United States, Central America and Africa. He was a Trustee of the Samuel Harrison House Museum, was recognized in 2015 by Berkshire Magazine as one of 25 Berkshire residents who are shaping a better community, and in March 2016 was awarded The Berkshire Award by the Berkshire Museum, honoringpeople who live in the greater Berkshires and who have made significant contribution to creating, keeping, or promoting artistic, historical, and natural heritage in the Berkshires. Don loved music, dancing, gardening, cooking, telling jokes, and living life fearlessly. He was passionate about social justice, history, film, loving his family, and traveling the world. Survivors include his wife, Sandra L. Burton-Kelley; one daughter- Nambi E. Kelley of New York, NY; and two sons-Marc E. Kelley and David Kelley, both of Chicago, IL. He also leaves two grandchildren Kaia and Xavier; two brothers including his twin- Jon Roderick Kelley of Chicago, IL and Alex F. Kelley of Carson, CA; two sisters including Edna Smith of Chicago, IL and Gloria Boyd of Moreno Valley, CA; nieces, nephews, cousins, and many close friends and colleagues around the world. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Quincy Adams Kelley, Jeannette (Fay) Kelley, and former spouse, Carol (Long) Kelley. FUNERAL NOTICE: Celebrations of Life for Don Quinn Kelley are being planned for a later date. Memorial donations may be made to the Lift Ev'ry Voice Festival; The Mount; Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, or Trilogy Behavioral Healthcare Center in care of FLYNN & DAGNOLI-MONTAGNA HOME FOR FUNERALS CENTRAL CHAPEL, 74 Marshall St. North Adams, MA 01247. To add to the Book of Memories, please visit www.flynndagnolifuneralhomes.com

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Published by The Berkshire Eagle on Jul. 30, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for Don Kelley

Sponsored by The Berkshire Eagle.

9 Entries

Susi Dugaw

March 28, 2017

Don added so much joy to my life by being a wonderful dance partner and he taught me many moves at our local Zydeco dances. He is sorely missed in our dance community - he always lit up a room with his smile.

Lenora Taitt-Magubane

October 6, 2016

To the family of Don Quinn Kelley
Please accept my condolences on the death of Don. We were in the same class at Teachers College, Columbia University and received our degrees in 1974. I was fortunate in that we shared the same internship at the Metropolitan Applied Research Center and wrote a joint paper from that experience.

He shared his talents with all of his friends and colleagues over the years.

Don was a dear friend and will be missed.

Go well
A.Lenora Taitt-Magubane

Marty and Sharon Zavadil

August 1, 2016

Dear Sandra and Family,
We send you our sympathy upon the death of Don. Sharon met him once while visiting her sister, Holly Silva, who worked at Williams College. Sandra, you are in our hearts, prayers, and thoughts.
With sympathy,
Marty and Sharon Zavadil

Gail Krumpholz

August 1, 2016

To the family and friends of Don , my thoughts and prayers are with you.
It was an honor and a privilege to know Don and work alongside him with the Samuel Harrison Society. It is truly a blessing to have such a brilliant and considerate human being touch so many lives.
He will be missed .
Gail Krumpholz

MARLENA WILLIS

July 31, 2016

Dear Sandra and family, I met Don at a birthday celebration for the late Rev. Samuel Harrison in which he was a co-host. He spoke so eloquently and passionately about the life of someone he had never met but whom he clearly admired. Don was so easy to talk to and such an inspiration. I was thrilled when he became a SHS Trustee, he was such a asset and I was proud to have been in his company. Please know how much he was loved, admired and how much he will be missed...

Marlena Willis
Pittsfield, MA

July 31, 2016

Don left this world a legacy of love and compassion and awareness. He will not be forgotten.

Florence Tager

July 30, 2016

Don Kelley was one of the most intellectually gifted, passionate and interesting colleague I met at Medgar Evers College where we both worked for thirty five years. Don had been a founding member of the Education Department where we team-taught, did political work and wrote Naming The World. I deeply admired his political passion and charisma as we organized against injustices at the college and worked on anti apartheid divestment issues in CUNY! In the earliest days, when Don and I team-taught a course in the history and philosophy of education we brought our children to the Dean street site Marc his son and my daughter Miriam would play together just outside the Temple classroom. He always talked about his children, and was very proud of who they were! Don was a passionate, caring socially conscious and extremely talented individual whose death is a real loss to our society! I personally will deeply miss him!

Wuane Johnstone

July 30, 2016

Sandra and The Family-
What started as a community focused relationship between Don, me and others in the creation of LEV quickly became a warm friendship. It was a privilege to have known him so well, and I will never forget that engagement.
With great personal sorrow, I share your loss and extend my heartfelt sympathy