On Saturday, July 26, 2025, Dan ‘The Docent’ Kelley was honored at a Celebration of Life at the Aviation Museum of N.H. More than 100 people gathered to honor the memory of this remarkable man, who died in May after battling an illness. Family members, friends, colleagues, and fellow volunteers paid tribute to Kelley, who had been part of the Aviation Museum community for 13 years.
Below is a video of the speaking program. Many thanks to volunteer Kip Sheedy for compiling this video.
Here’s a selection of photos from the Celebration of Life. Many thanks to Steve Heffelfinger for sharing these. And thanks to all who attended—family, friends, and fellow docents and Aviation Museum community members!
Original announcement and funeral info
We’re sad to report news of the recent passing of Dan ‘The Docent’ Kelley, who died on Friday, May 16, 2025 from complications caused by a chronic illness. Dan, a U.S. Navy pilot who later worked as a commercial pilot, had a passion for all things aviation, and loved volunteering for our organization.
A funeral Mass for Dan Kelley was celebrated on Wednesday, June 4 at 10 a.m. at Christ the King Church, 72 South Main St., Concord, N.H., followed by a light brunch. Burial took place at 1 p.m. at the N.H. State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen, N.H.
Below is a complete obituary.
Obituary with updated funeral arrangements
Daniel W. Kelley, Jr of Stratham, N.H. passed away peacefully on May 16, 2025 in Ft. Myers, Fla.
Dan was born on Dec. 15, 1947, to Daniel Sr. and Virginia (Grace) Kelley. He is survived by his loving wife, Marianne (Vrabel) of 51 years, son Brian, sister Elizabeth and many extended family members. Also Dan leaves behind many friends and in particular, long time friends Carl Peters and Arlene Mure who were present with him until the end, along with his sister, and sister and brother in law Eileen and Gary Datsko. Dan was preceded in death by his parents, sister Katherine and brothers, Timothy and James.
In 1967, Dan was accepted at the University of Rhode Island on a track scholarship and enrolled in the military AVROC (aviation) program, the beginnings of his lifelong passion for everything aviation. After graduating URI, he entered the U.S. Navy, became a student in the Navy flight training program and was awarded his “gold wings” at completion. While on active duty for 10 years, he served as a flight instructor and P3 pilot. He retired from the Navy Reserves in 1991.
Dan also pursued his aviation career as a commercial airline pilot, flying the DC-9, Boeing 737 and 727 and the Airbus 320. As a recreational pilot, he flew Cessnas and often enjoyed taking his family for scenic rides up and down the New England coast. In his quest for all things aviation, he along with a number of fellow pilots fought and won to change the airline pilot retirement age law from 60 to 65, after presenting their case to the U.S. Congress in 2007. Lastly but very importantly, in March 2025, Dan received the Master Pilot Award from the Federal Aviation Administration for 50 years of safe flying.
Dan was a devoted husband, father, son, brother, uncle, cousin and friend who believed that life was more than a career. He dedicated hours to his community as a Boy Scout leader, soccer coach and animal shelter volunteer. He was known as Dan “The Docent” where he shared his love of flying as a volunteer at the Aviation/Military Museums in New Hampshire and Florida. Dan’s hobbies included golfing, hiking, kayaking, traveling, watching sports, reading, and entertaining family and friends. He was an avid New England sports fan, often wearing Red Sox and Patriot ball caps as part of his daily wardrobe.
A funeral service Mass was held for Dan on Wednesday June 4 at 10 a.m. at Christ the King Church, 72 South Main St., Concord, N.H. Coordination arrangements are being handled by the Bennett Funeral Home. After a light brunch, burial followed at 1 p.m. at the N.H. State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen N.H. A Celebration of Life event will also be held for Dan at the Aviation Museum of N.H. in July. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to your local animal shelter or at any aviation/military museum.
MESSAGE FROM BRIAN KELLEY
May 18, 2025
To everyone in the Aviation Museum of N.H. family—
There is nothing that I hate more than to be the bearer of bad news. It comes with a heavy heart to share with all of you that we lost my Dad (Dan Kelley) on Friday May 16th around 630pm eastern, after suffering multiple organ failures, as well as many other complications, caused from an obscure blood/vascular disorder.
After spending nearly 80 days on the ICU bed at two hospitals, Dan fought as hard as he possibly could and remained strong-willed through the last second of his life, as the condition of his body continued to deteriorate, after his doctors and nurses informed us that they have followed all medical recommendations, and conducted every medical procedure possible to ensure an improvement in his condition.
As devastated as I felt, to be the one to have held his hand, as he breathed his last breath I could not be more thankful for the complete and admirable life that he lived, as well as his tireless and enthusiastic energy contributed to our great museum.
We also could not be more thankful for the prayers and support received from our community, especially here at Av Museum of NH. My Dad’s influence is alive and well, and will no doubt continue to shower over this museum, and will inspire this place for a long time to come.
We will notify everyone once we find out which flight and when, Dan’s coffin is scheduled to arrive at MHT. Subject to change, but we are planning to have a memorial service in honor of the amazing life that Dan lived, tentatively scheduled for the evening of Saturday July 26..
More details are to come, so please mark your calendars, and we hope to see all of you there soon.
Again, I wish that I had happier news to share with all of you, but thank you for your prayers and support that will never be forgotten during these difficult times.
Sincerely,
Brian Kelley (Dan’s son)
Like everyone else in our Museum family, I will miss Dan greatly. Even when he and his wife were wintering down in FL, Dan continued his simulator work at their local aviation museum. This is part of an exchange I had with him back in February:
“On Wed, Feb 5, 2025 at 9:28 PM Daniel Kelley wrote:
Hi, Steve!
I’ve been busy. My favorite activity is being a qualified “Sim Instructor” in the Flight Ops Dept at the Heritage Military and Aviation Museum in Punta Gorda, FL – about a 35 min drive from here in Cape Coral , on the Gulf Coast. We have four, large simulators in our “sim room”. We have over 25 different aircraft that we can choose from. So far, I’m “checked out” on the F/A-18 (including carrier operations), F-16, J-3 Piper Cub, Cessna 172, Iconic seaplane, and Warbirds: P-51, F-4U, P-38, and P-61, “Black Widow”, twin-engine, night interceptor. I like the P-61, because it has that “heavy” feel of a Boeing that I am used to, believe it or not. The warbirds, especially, are a little challenging to operate at times. The warbirds were built before instrument panels had standardized construction and design. Even for me, when I am sitting on the runway, before initial take-off, I have to get my eyeballs “trained” to see where everything is located on the instrument panel, before pushing the throttles up. I may try for some airliners in the system, later on.
We try to develop different flight scenarios and simplify procedures so that visitors don’t get overwhelmed and frustrated. Most leave smiling. I think that they also leave with a better understanding about what being a pilot is all about. We are allotted a 20 minute session per visitor. It is also challenging to structure each session to get maximum benefit. It is amazing how quickly some visitors “get it”, while others get nervous and struggle a bit. I try to have a “default” scenario ready that I can use – most of time – so that they don’ t crash on landing and leave happy!
I am very pleased at the way you guys are developing our sim program up there. I look forward to getting trained on your new system, and. especially, getting back together with everyone, next May.
Please tell everybody that I said hello!
Stay safe and stay warm!
Dan”