Respected attorney, assisted affordable housing initiatives, loved exploring the Maine woods
John Kelly. (Courtesy photo)
John David Kelley, 54, died at his home in West Bath, Maine, on May 30, surrounded by his beloved family. The cause of death was glioblastoma. However, the effects of this aggressive brain cancer were mitigated by outstanding care, so John lived with purpose and joy for the last 15 months of his life.
John was born in Trenton, New Jersey, to his parents, John Thomas Kelley Jr. and Linda Neff Kelley.
He was married for 31 years to his summer-camp sweetheart, Shannon R. Kelley.
He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami in 1993 and a JD from Boston College Law School in 1996.
John recently retired from the law firm of Riemer & Braunstein LLP, where he was a founding partner in the firm’s tax credit and community development finance practice group. For more than 25 years, John represented clients in transactions financed by low-income housing tax credits, historic tax credits, new markets tax credits, and energy tax credits. John’s legal practice also handled mixed-use real estate developments, renewable energy facilities, and other complex projects. John was particularly proud of his role in helping to bring online thousands of affordable housing units over many years. Before joining Riemer in 2022, John was a partner at Jones Day and also at Holland & Knight. John was generous in lending significant time and expertise toward a variety of pro bono causes including anti-human-trafficking programs in Boston and the Laredo Project, which provides legal support to women and children seeking asylum at the border in Texas.
John loved classic cars, motorcycles, all kinds of music, history, reading, travel, a well-made cocktail, and a joke well told. While he appreciated the finer things, John was happiest savoring life’s simple pleasures like a walk in the Maine woods or exploring what inspired his children: the plant and animal kingdom and the STEM fields. John worked hard, laughed easily, and forgave freely.
John is survived by his wife, Shannon; son, Jack; daughter, Claire; mother, Linda; brother, Brian; sister-in-law, Amy; and nephew, Conor.
John leaves behind treasured friends and neighbors in Shoal Cove in West Bath, Maine, and in Harvard, where he lived with his family for 19 years.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Virginia Thurston Healing Garden in Harvard (healing gardensupport.org) to support patients and caregivers navigating a cancer diagnosis.
Visiting hours will take place Friday, June 6, from 4 to 7 p.m., at Acton Funeral Home, 470 Massachusetts Avenue, Acton.
A funeral service will take place Saturday, June 7, at 1 p.m., at Harvard Unitarian Universalist Church, 9 Ayer Road, Harvard.
