In Memory of Rev. Richard A. Kellaway (July 27, 1934 – March 21, 2021)
Richard was born on July 27, 1934 in the greater Boston area to Arthur K. and Bertha (Sturtevant) Kellaway. As a child he was closely tied to his mother who cherished a dream for him that he should be a “history professor at Harvard”. She died when he was only eleven years old; three years later his father remarried. His stepmother, the late Lorraine (Lowell) Kellaway introduced the family to the local UU church. Richard found himself quickly attracted to the UU teachings and felt they supported his values and growing intellectualized rebellion.
Richard graduated high school while sixteen years of age and began at Tufts University, MA. After two years, he transferred to Antioch University, CA where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy (1956). He earned his master’s degree in philosophy from Southern Illinois University, IL in 1957 following which he graduated with a Bachelor’s in Sacred Theology (1961) from Harvard Divinity School.
Rev. Kellaway was ordained on January 8, 1961 by the First Unitarian Church in New Bedford, MA where he carried out his first ministry (1960-1968). His ministry at the Bedford congregation marked a total renovation of the church building. He worked out the strategy for funding and oversaw the renovation process, which was an enormous success aesthetically, practically, and financially. In 1968, he accepted a call from the Fourth Universalist Society in the City of New York, NY and served there until 1976. There too, he led the process of defining the needs, persuading the congregation, finding the funds, selecting the architect and contractor, and overseeing the construction process. Then, from 1976 to 1980, he served the UU Service Committee as an Associate Director for US Programs.
In 1981, Rev. Kellaway was called to the UU Church of Sarasota, FL. At the Sarasota congregation, he introduced many new programs, initiated a process to expand the facilities, developed a capital fund drive, oversaw the construction process, and ministered until 1986. Later in 1986, he returned to the congregation where he first began his ministry, the First Unitarian Church in New Bedford, MA and served for an additional thirteen years. During these years, the congregation achieved virtually complete handicapped accessibility, grew greatly in diversity, and open congregational hearings were held to offer members opportunities to express concerns and opinions. Believing that the congregation was in excellent shape to move forward to a new settled ministry, he retired on June 1, 1999. Upon retirement, recognizing his distinguished services to the church and community, the Bedford congregation honored him as their minister emeritus.
Following retirement, Rev. Kellaway took interim positions at the First Unitarian Church of Providence, RI (2000) and the First Parish UU of Medfield, MA (2000-2001). He also served the UU Fellowship of Stowe, VT from 2010 to 2014.
Throughout his career, Rev. Kellaway was devoted to denominational and community services. He was President of the UU Minister’s Association, Ballou-Channing District, and a member and chair of the Pamphlet Commission, UUA. In the late 60’s, he served the Editorial Board of Kairos (liberal religious publication); and a Committee for An Informed UUA Electorate, as a President. He also served the Editorial Advisory Board of Journal of the Liberal Ministry (UUMA) and was a member of the Curriculum team on UU Identities; the UUA Commission on Appraisal; and the Continental Task Force on Economic Justice, UUA.
Rev. Kellaway was a founding member of the Social Concerns Grants Panel, UUA and the UU’s for a Just Economic Community. During the 90’s, he served as a Chair of Program Committee of Ballou-Channing District, was one of the Board Members of Friends of Czech Unitaria; and a Board Member and an advisor to UU Voice (1990). From 2009 to 2017, he provided his services to the First Parish Church in Dorchester, MA as a Worship Committee Chair.
Richard always had a voice for the church’s commitment to social justice, for religion as a liberal art, and for civil rights. His ministry was strong in the areas of religion, culture, and local culture. He was instrumental in the founding and development of the New Bedford Art Museum in MA. He was one of the founders of United Interfaith Action of Fall River and New Bedford. He founded the New Bedford Summer festival and cofounded The Human Economy Center, an organization dedicated to promoting small scale economic alternatives. In addition, he was founding member of the New Bedford Human Rights Commission, and Committee for a moratorium on Prison Construction, NY. He served as a trustee for the Swain School of Design, MA; as a President for the New Dimensions in Comprehensive Health Care, NY; and as a Program Director for The Human Economy Center. He was Vice President and a Program Chair for the Sarasota County Civic League (1981-1985); moderator for the Sarasota Institute for Lifetime Learning (1983-1985); and a founder and president for the Sarasota Health Care Forum (1983-1985). Furthermore, he served as Vice President of the Friends of the Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology.
In his leisure time, Richard loved travelling, collecting art, museum, music, local history, and history preservation.
Richard is survived by his children: Ronald Kellaway and Andrea Kellaway; his grandchildren: Ethan Kellaway and Angela Stites; and his former wife Jean Dickinson Kellaway. He was the oldest brother of John Kellaway, Joanne Kellaway, Susan Creeden, the late Ken Kellaway, and the late Patricia Kellaway. He was preceded in death by his parents: Arthur K. and Bertha (Sturtevant) Kellaway.