Mary Anne Kelly

Pioneer Network Remembers Our Dear Friend and Colleague

A Tribute to Mary Anne Kelly by Joanne Rader

Friends of the Pioneer Network were saddened to hear of the death of our friend and colleague, Mary Anne Kelly on July 16,2009.  She served as a board member extraordinaire from 2002 through 2007, when health problems caused her to leave. Mary Anne was brought onto the board because of her knowledge, passion, and advocacy for bringing culture change into the full spectrum of long-term care. She brought a feisty brilliance related to policy and politics that was very much needed by the Network.  She gave unselfishly of her time, intellect and passion through her advocacy in Pennsylvania, her teaching, and her work for the Pioneer Network. Many of the state culture change coalitions grew under her tutelage and support.  She was also an expert in working with boards of directors and helped us to steer our course wisely.

She will be remembered for so many things. Her obituary outlines her long career of advocacy for elders and others and her skill at bringing together coalitions to get things done. In 1990 she worked to create a nine-county partnership of volunteers that grew into SWPPA (Southwestern Pennsylvania Partnership for Aging), now a non-profit organization with a membership of 400 service providers.

She was tenacious, funny, intense, generous and a good friend to elders and those lucky enough to know her.  Her family was so important to her and she was probably one of the best aunts a kid could have asked for.  An avid sports fan of every Pittsburgh team, she attended many with her niece and nephews and spoke with such love and joy about their times together.

There is no good way to express how she will be missed by so many in so many ways.

We are so grateful to have known her and to have received so much from her. Thank you, Mary Anne, and good bye.  

"Such a fine woman, with work so special and appreciated, I shall miss her sweet smile and eager readiness to work hard for people who live in nursing  homes.  May her beautiful soul find a beautiful resting place." - Karen Schoeneman

"I feel so sad about Mary Anne, but also feel honored to have known her with all her strengths and courage" - Elma Holder

"She was very special to me with both in person and chatting on the phone. The spark, the love and the passion would always be there when she spoke about her family going to ball games and the wonderful wedding in her back yard, talking about her students and their projects, working at SWPPA, but most of all the passion for culture change. It was and still is for me, memories I will hold of her forever." - Christie Dobson

"The thought that comes up most for me right now is "connection."  This is really what we want to enable for our elders and Mary Anne recognized the importance of it in our lives as well. Mary Anne shared the love of Eckhart Tolle's work.  From his collection of thoughts, "Stillness Speaks", he wrote about death: People tend to be uncomfortable with endings, because every ending is a little death.  That's why in many languages, the word for "good-bye" means "see you again". See you again, Mary Anne!" - Bill Keane

"I appreciated Mary Anne for everything she did in her advocacy. But what impacted me the most is that she didn't create filters around herself coming in or going out. She had a natural comfort and confidence in who she was and was unapologetically authentic. That was her power and potency. It is why we remember what she did and why she was so good at it." - Steve Shields

"One of the things Mary Anne stressed was that person centered care and culture change is needed across the aging services spectrum so that elders are respected and treated with dignity wherever they may live. Let's all stay connected and work together to make it happen for Mary Anne, ourselves and for future generations." - Cathy Lieblich

"I close my eyes and see Mary Anne in front of me, hear her voice, her outrageous chutzpa, have laughed again and again over the years as I've heard her in my memory asking if she had a tatoo on her forehead. As I write, CNN is talking on and on about Walter Cronkite. In our world, Mary Anne Kelly was every bit the giant that he was." - Barry Barkan

 A Love Poem for Mary Ann Kelly by Barry Barkan

What a bright light
courageous voice
and hip sister,
this Mary Ann

With her impeccable
'crap detector'
constantly sorting wheat
from chaffe or

More realistically,
'BS'
from the real thing
as she holds her ground

Talking straight
sometimes salty
always savvy
cutting through 'wonk speak'

Politically astute,
redefining realism
as she stands unyielding for
the culture of love and respect

Like all great change makers
she has been there for
everyone, everywhere
dedicated to binging people together

In coalitions where
common purpose
can trump self interest
and hope prevails

Mary Ann's own
life has not been easy
as heart breaking loss
shattered many dreams

Driven by her passion
and compassion and vision
for the old among us
she has soldiered on

Leaving in the wake
of her bright star
a trail of affection,
joy and admiration

Among those of us who love her
and are grateful
for the sweetness
of her precious friendship.