A loving wife, mother, grandmother, great- grandmother. Worldly, inclusive, and progressive in her thinking. Aware of her civic responsibility. A follower of fashion, music, and the arts. A great dancer and cook. To quote a friend, you wanted to be her friend.
Jean Carleton Kelly, 95, died peacefully in her home in Nyack, NY on Monday, July 12, 2021. Jean was born on September 22, 1925, to Warren and Irene Carleton. She was a direct descendant of Governor William Bradford of the Plymouth Colony. Jean grew up in Brooklyn Heights, NY, graduated from Bishop McDonnell High School and attended Pace University for two years. She then entered the world of advertising. During the ‘70s and ‘80s Jean was the Co-Director of Volunteer Services of Rockland Children’s Psychiatric Center.
Jean was a member of a wide variety of civic and cultural organizations. She was a co-founder of the Rockland Parent Child Center. She was also a founding member of the Learning Collaborative and, until her death, an engaged member of its Board of Directors. Jean was also a past member of the Board of Directors of the Nyack YMCA. She held many other volunteer positions including patient advocate at Nyack Hospital and docent at The Edward Hopper House in Nyack.
The community recognized her contributions. Jean was awarded the Nyack Center Women of Leadership Award, and the Key to Our Heart Award from the Rockland Parent Child Center.
In the pursuit of her interests in the arts and foreign affairs Jean was a member of The Thursday Reading Class (a women’s literary club established in 1891), the Morning Music Club of Nyack, the New York Center for Foreign Policy Affairs, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Jean was also a regular in the second tier of Geffen Hall at the NY Philharmonic.
Jean was predeceased in 1990 by her husband of 42 years, the Honorable Theodore A. Kelly, Supreme Court of the State of New York. She was also predeceased in 2005 by a loving companion of 15 years, Jerome Putz.
Survivors include four children, Christopher (Bonnie), Theodore Jr. (Joanne), Gail (Bruce) and Alison; six grandchildren, Kristien, Annie, Theodore III, Alex, Jesse, and Cameron; and seven great-grandchildren.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to a charity of one’s choice.