Obituary of Richard Damian Kelly

Richard Damian Kelly Jr. passed from this Earth on October 23, 2014, to join his Catholic Irish and German ancestors, wherever you think they may be, in eternal rest. Richard was born in Bangor on July 28, 1941, to Richard Damian Kelly and Mary Theresa Ambrose. He was a 1955 graduate of St. Mary's School and a 1959 graduate of John Bapst High School where he excelled at basically nothing except Coffee Party, dancing, dramatics and staying out of trouble with the Sisters of Mercy and the Xaverian Brothers. He attended St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, from 1959 to 1962, at which time he received his draft notice from the United States of America. He served his country from December of 1963 through December of 1966 with the 656th Engineering Battalion (Topographic Intelligence), Schwetzingen, Germany, reaching the rank of Sergeant. Upon his return to the US of A, Richard continued his education at the University of Maine, Orono, receiving his Bachelor's Degree in 1970 and his Master's Degree in 1978, both in History. By that time, 1968, he had married the love of his life Nancy Gail Adams, who survives him. He is also survived by his daughter, Tanya E. Kelly, of Portland, son Micah D. Kelly and wife Tracy Weston, of Palermo, and the most beautiful granddaughters ever, Josephine Flora Kelly and Dorianna Therese Kelly. Also surviving are his brother, Robert W. Kelly, of Brewer; sister Christine F. Kelly, of South Portland; sister-in-law Judith Kelly (whose husband and his brother, Brian M. Kelly, predeceased him in 2010) of Hampden; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, associates and friends. Richard's professional life began in 1973 when he moved his family to Augusta. Here he and a colleague began the Maine Historical Preservation Commission. Later he joined the State Planning Office where he spent his remaining 36 years of state service as a planner and cartographer. He created maps for the James W. Sewall Co. of Old Town, the U.S. Army, and the State of Maine and as a freelance cartographer he illustrated well over 100 books, articles and scientific journals. A few of his hand drawn maps have actually become (or may become) classics. That being said, he never forgot his love of Maine history and especially his family history in Maine. He published seven books about Irish history in Maine, several of which were written by him. Six of his books have become virtual bibles for those of Irish and German heritage in Benedicta and Houlton, Maine. Richard was an avid genealogist and helped many people for years through the Maine State Library to find their family roots. He was also the volunteer archivist for the Diocese of Portland where he happily immersed himself in historical documents. His passion for map-making led Richard to dedicate twelve years to teaching cartography at the University of Southern Maine. Here he passed on his craft of hand-drawn mapping. The Wooden Boat School in Brooklyn, ME, was Richard's other love. He spent twenty summers painting, scraping and building wooden boats. His final, unfinished project was a meticulously carved radio-controlled Pond Yacht. Early years of camping in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia were exchanged for wonderful summers spent with family at Webber Pond in Vassalboro. Here, he taught his children to swim, fish and canoe and instilled in them a lifelong love and respect for the outdoors. Committal services will be held at the gravesite at the New Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemetery on Mount Vernon Road in Augusta on Monday, Nov. 10, at noon. Following committal, a memorial reception will be held at Temple Beth El, Woodlawn Road at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial contributions to John Bapst's High School Class of 1959, Bangor, ME; Wooden Boat School, Brooklyn, ME; and Temple Beth El Building Fund, Augusta, ME. - See more at: http://obituaries.kjonline.com/obituaries/mainetoday-kennebecjournal/obituary.aspx?n=richard-damian-kelly&pid=172980436#sthash.DGoVXrSQ.dpufRichard Damian Kelly Jr. passed from this Earth on October 23, 2014, to join his Catholic Irish and German ancestors, wherever you think they may be, in eternal rest. Richard was born in Bangor on July 28, 1941, to Richard Damian Kelly and Mary Theresa Ambrose. He was a 1955 graduate of St. Mary's School and a 1959 graduate of John Bapst High School where he excelled at basically nothing except Coffee Party, dancing, dramatics and staying out of trouble with the Sisters of Mercy and the Xaverian Brothers. He attended St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, from 1959 to 1962, at which time he received his draft notice from the United States of America. He served his country from December of 1963 through December of 1966 with the 656th Engineering Battalion (Topographic Intelligence), Schwetzingen, Germany, reaching the rank of Sergeant. Upon his return to the US of A, Richard continued his education at the University of Maine, Orono, receiving his Bachelor's Degree in 1970 and his Master's Degree in 1978, both in History. By that time, 1968, he had married the love of his life Nancy Gail Adams, who survives him. He is also survived by his daughter, Tanya E. Kelly, of Portland, son Micah D. Kelly and wife Tracy Weston, of Palermo, and the most beautiful granddaughters ever, Josephine Flora Kelly and Dorianna Therese Kelly. Also surviving are his brother, Robert W. Kelly, of Brewer; sister Christine F. Kelly, of South Portland; sister-in-law Judith Kelly (whose husband and his brother, Brian M. Kelly, predeceased him in 2010) of Hampden; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, associates and friends. Richard's professional life began in 1973 when he moved his family to Augusta. Here he and a colleague began the Maine Historical Preservation Commission. Later he joined the State Planning Office where he spent his remaining 36 years of state service as a planner and cartographer. He created maps for the James W. Sewall Co. of Old Town, the U.S. Army, and the State of Maine and as a freelance cartographer he illustrated well over 100 books, articles and scientific journals. A few of his hand drawn maps have actually become (or may become) classics. That being said, he never forgot his love of Maine history and especially his family history in Maine. He published seven books about Irish history in Maine, several of which were written by him. Six of his books have become virtual bibles for those of Irish and German heritage in Benedicta and Houlton, Maine. Richard was an avid genealogist and helped many people for years through the Maine State Library to find their family roots. He was also the volunteer archivist for the Diocese of Portland where he happily immersed himself in historical documents. His passion for map-making led Richard to dedicate twelve years to teaching cartography at the University of Southern Maine. Here he passed on his craft of hand-drawn mapping. The Wooden Boat School in Brooklyn, ME, was Richard's other love. He spent twenty summers painting, scraping and building wooden boats. His final, unfinished project was a meticulously carved radio-controlled Pond Yacht. Early years of camping in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia were exchanged for wonderful summers spent with family at Webber Pond in Vassalboro. Here, he taught his children to swim, fish and canoe and instilled in them a lifelong love and respect for the outdoors. Committal services will be held at the gravesite at the New Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemetery on Mount Vernon Road in Augusta on Monday, Nov. 10, at noon. Following committal, a memorial reception will be held at Temple Beth El, Woodlawn Road at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial contributions to John Bapst's High School Class of 1959, Bangor, ME; Wooden Boat School, Brooklyn, ME; and Temple Beth El Building Fund, Augusta, ME.