Richard Kelley

Dr. Richard David Kelley ("Dick") of Frederick, Maryland died peacefully at Edenton Retirement Village on Saturday, May 13, 2017 at the age of 78.

Dick is survived by his wife, Evelyn; four children, Carolyn K. Klinger (Ronald) of Olney, Maryland, Patricia Kelley (William W. Higgins, Jr.) of San Francisco, California, Richard S. Kelley (Carrie Schloss) of Berkeley, California, and Jennifer E. Tele (Cristian) of Charleston, South Carolina; one grandchild, Todd J. Klinger; four siblings, Joanne E. Arsenault of Watertown, MA, John J. Kelley, Jr. (Mary) of Watertown, MA, Edward C. Kelley (Connie) of Attleboro, MA, and Kathleen M. Lockyer (Bill) of Watertown and Harwich, MA; two sisters-in-law, Peg Kelley of Edgartown, MA and Irene Kelley of Georgetown, MA, and many adored nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Dr. John J. Kelley, Sr. and Kathleen M. (Stewart) Kelley, siblings James H. Kelley, Elaine E. Tocci, and William G. Kelley, and brother-in-law, Albert H. Arsenault.

Dick was born on March 24, 1939 in Brighton, MA to the late Dr. John J. Kelley, Sr. and Kathleen M. (Stewart) Kelley and grew up in Watertown, MA. He graduated from Boston College High School in 1956, Boston College in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry, Holy Cross College in 1961 with a Master of Science degree, and the Catholic University of America in 1966 with a PhD in Chemistry. While a PhD student, Dick had an internship as a scientist with the federal government.

After completing his internship, Dick became a research chemist in the physical chemistry division of the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) in downtown Washington, DC, before the institution moved to Gaithersburg, MD and was renamed National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). In 1987, Dick joined the Department of Energy (DOE) as part of the Office of Science, in Germantown, MD. There he built and sustained a world-leading federal program in support of materials chemistry in the United States. His greatest professional joy was visiting the labs at universities and national laboratories where he oversaw the progress of basic science research that the DOE had funded under his leadership. He created vital connections within the scientific community while becoming friends with many eminent scientists, including Nobel Prize winners.

Dick and his wife, the former Evelyn Christine LaMacchia, met through mutual friends when they were both PhD students at the Catholic University of America. While going to school in Washington, DC, Dick was welcomed into the Silver Spring, MD home of his brother, Jim, sister-in-law, Peg, and their children. After Dick and Evelyn married in 1966, they moved to Bethesda, MD, and within a year had their first child. Over the next 16 years, they welcomed three more children. In 1973, they moved into the home they built in Potomac, MD. From 1982 to 1983, the family lived in Jülich, West Germany, where their youngest child was born.

Dick was a kind and gentle man who treated everyone with respect. He enjoyed playing squash, golf, and tennis and watching all sports. He was the fastest ice cream eater in the family. He loved grocery shopping and picking up friends and family from the airport. He coached his children’s soccer teams on behalf of Montgomery Soccer Incorporated for nearly 20 years, thanks to the spread in his children’s ages. He was a patient math teacher to his children, a listening ear in times of trouble, and a detailed list maker. He was deeply loved and will be greatly missed.

Visiting hours at the Keeney & Basford Funeral Home, 106 E Church St, Frederick, will be on Thursday, May 18 from 4-7 p.m. A funeral mass will be celebrated at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 118 E 2nd St, Frederick, on Friday, May 19 at 10 a.m. Burial at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, 515 S. Market Street, Frederick will follow. Family and friends are welcome to attend and celebrate Dick’s remarkable life.

In lieu of flowers, please send contributions in Dick’s memory to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation at https://www2.jdrf.org. Online condolences may be shared at keeneybasford.com.