Thomas D. Kelly

Thomas D. Kelly

Thomas D. Kelly, a well respected Bridgehampton High School English teacher, died at his home in North Sea on July 21. Mr. Kelly, who was 61, had been ill with cancer for two years, his family said.

“He commanded respect, but he was adored by both his students and his colleagues,” said Nancy Nagel, who, along with Mr. Kelly made up the entire English department at the small public school, where Mr. Kelly had taught since moving back to Long Island in 1985.

“He had very high standards, but he guided his students to their best work,” she added. “The thing that really impressed me the most was that he led by example. He had a lot of grace and humility.”

“I don’t think people realize how many lives he touched,” said Mary Anne Jules, a physical education teacher and the district’s athletic director. “Kids and teachers were always asking him for advice, in school issues and personal matters, it didn’t matter what it was. He was a very big part of the school. He really was. It’s a huge void. He’s not going to be replaced.”

Both colleagues pointed out that it was a testament to Mr. Kelly’s popularity that his wake, which took place over two days last week at the Brockett Funeral Home in Southampton, as well as his funeral mass, at Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Catholic Church in Southampton, were well attended by current and former students and colleagues from the faculty.

Although the school is closed for summer, the sign in front bore a simple message this week: “We mourn our loss.” After news of Mr. Kelly’s death spread through the community, the school was opened for students and faculty members. A more formal memorial gathering will be held after school reopens in September.

Family members remembered Mr. Kelly as a welcoming host who could turn out a dinner for 20 guests at the drop of a hat and a willing listener who could be counted on to provide sage advice on a wide variety of topics.

Mr. Kelly was born on February 25, 1948, in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, to Thomas and Catherine Kelly and was raised in Bellrose, Queens, where he attended Catholic schools.

He attended Marist College in Poughkeepsie, graduating in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in English. He later earned master’s degrees from the United States International University in San Diego and Long Island University.

During his long career, Mr. Kelly was named teacher of the year frequently at Bridgehampton and received a similar honor from Southampton College. He also took three long cultural exchange trips, visiting Japan, Russia and Turkmenistan.

Mr. Kelly was working as a principal at St. Athanasius School in the South Bronx when he met his future wife, Susanna Whelan of East Hampton, who was working there as a teacher. The couple married on June 8, 1974, at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in East Hampton.

The couple later moved to San Diego and from there to Columbia, Maryland, where they taught in the public schools for 11 years before returning to the East End, where they built a house on Noyac Road in North Sea.

Mr. Kelly was an active member of Sacred Hearts parish, where he served as a lector, taught religious education and served with his wife in the parish’s pre-Cana program for couples planning to get married.

Monsignor Alfred LoPinto, an old family friend, and Monsignor Edmond Trench, the retired pastor of Sacred Hearts, concelebrated a funeral mass on Saturday, with readings done by family members and music provided by the choir of the First Baptist Church of Bridgehampton. Burial was at the parish cemetery.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Kelly is survived by his three children, Rachel Cahill of Pelham, Daniel Kelly of Hampton Bays and Samuel Kelly of Southampton, and two grandchildren, John and Claire Cahill.

He is also survived by seven brothers and sisters, Joan Donlon of Modesto, California, Cathy Diffley of Bellrose, Kevin Kelly of Bellrose, Ann Kelly of Glen Cove, Tim Kelly of Glen Cove, Maureen Sheerin of Syosset and Michael Kelly of Stony Brook. An older brother, Mark Kelly, predeceased him.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Thomas D. Kelly Scholarship Fund, c/o the Bridgehampton Teachers Association, P.O. Box 3021, Bridgehampton 11932 would be appreciated by the family.