Robert J. Kellard
September 26, 1935 ~ August 1, 2019
Dr. Robert J. Kellard, 83, died Thursday, August 1, 2019 at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers surrounded by his family. He was the husband of Mary (Galvin) Kellard, with whom he shared fifty-eight years of marriage.
Born and raised in Boston, he was the son of the late Robert and Margaret (Cody) Kellard. He graduated from Mission High School and went on to receive his bachelor’s degree from Boston College in 1957. He was a 1961 graduate of the Tufts University School of Medicine.
Dr. Kellard served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in the Central Highlands of Vietnam.
Dr. Kellard began his practice as a physician in Danvers in 1963. He was an emergency physician at Hunt Memorial Hospital until his retirement in 2000 and was happiest at Hunt working with a dedicated staff, helping the sick and injured who came to him for his expert care. For many years, he served as Emergency Room Director.
He was instrumental, along with Lyons Ambulance Service, the Danvers Police and Fire Departments, and the other departments at the hospital in establishing the first Trauma Center north of Boston. He was a great supporter, advocate, and teacher to local EMS professionals and was a major proponent of bringing advanced life support to local emergency medical services.
He was a member of the Mass Medical Society and a charter member of the American College of Emergency Physicians.
He served the local community for many years as a member of the Danvers Board of Health. He also coached for many years in the Danvers National Little League and was a past president of Danvers Youth Hockey.
Dr. Kellard’s family would like to thank his special caregivers from First Light Home Care for the loving care he received from them during the course of his illness.
In addition to his loving wife, he leaves five sons, Robert Kellard and his wife Libby of Danvers, Patrick Kellard and his wife Sarah of Florida, Tim Kellard of Wakefield, John Kellard and his wife Alana of Middleton, and Kevin Kellard and his wife Monica of Attleboro. He also leaves his seven grandchildren, Kasey, Kylie, Kourtney, Meghan, Alyssa, Jordan, and Delaney.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 10AM in Saint Richard Church, 90 Forest St., Danvers. Burial will follow in Annunciation Cemetery, Danvers. Relatives and friends are invited. Visiting hours are Tuesday from 4-8PM in C.R. Lyons & Sons Funeral Directors, 28 Elm St., Danvers Square. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Danvers People-to-People Food Pantry, P.O. Box 2076, Danvers, MA 01923 or the charity of your choice.
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Bob always supported us EMT’s and the EMT programs we taught at Hunt Hospital. He had a wry sense of humor but we all loved and respected him. I learned so much from him and the respect he showed for us is something you don’t see anymore. I so enjoyed working with him. One of the last of the best in ER docs. RIP Bob
Dr.Bob was a Strong minded,strong willed man,with a heart and smile that would strike like lightning! He at times had his own little world and way things were happening, but the twinkle in his eyes,and the all of a sudden pep in his steps always kept me smiling. Yea there were days he would scare the bajibbas out of me ,then,the next breath youd hear “so how are you sweetie,what do you want to do?” Man of knowledge, love,and respect this man was! His wonderful Five sons are an example of what a Great Dad and OMG such a wonderful Mom,Wife,Lady Mary is.. RIP SWEET BOB
Sleep with the Angel’s Doc
You are missed by so many…
Best ER Doc ever!! Rest easy
He taught and guided us in the EMS community. Always kind and compassionate, stern if we needed it and of course with that wonderful sense of humor. He was a wonderful teacher and physician.
On behalf of the Danvers Board of Health staff, it was great serving with you for over 10-years in the interest of public health.
Beneath the umbrella of public health services – from environmental health and the emerging diseases we experienced that are caused by mosquitos and ticks to our vaccine management program – your wisdom and your firm-but-courteous temperament was critical to the often-challenging decisions we made as a well-functioning team.
And not to be overlooked by your service to community is your service to country.
As the Danvers veterans service officer I am honored to summarize your military career by stating that during your honorable service as a Medical Officer in the US Army with the rank of Captain, you earned prestigious medals for heroism while participating in aerial flight – the Air Medal, for heroic service in a combat zone on several occasions as denoted by you Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Medical Badge, and of course your Vietnam Campaign and Vietnam Services Medals which denote that you served with boots-on-the-ground in Vietnam during combat.
I am proud to have had the privilege of working closely with you in some capacity during a brief time in our lives and for that I shall remain,
Very respectfully yours,
Peter M. Mirandi
Great man, I first met him in Vietnam, and again in Middleton. He was a great EMS instructor and helped us in our medical journey. God bless, safe journey.
Fond memories of Dr. Kellard and the Kellard house hold. Post Gate Road was ground zero for most of my friends growing up. The Kellard house was the meeting point for all of us. Dr. Kellard and Mary were always welcoming and kind! A wonderful professional, friend and father! My deepest condolences to everyone in the Kellard family!
Working with Dr. Bob was both a privilege and challenge in my early years of ER nursing. He was talented, caring and at times mischievous. As a child growing up in Danvers I experienced his no nonsense, funny manner when I needed stitches and as a colleague he taught me how to be calm, caring and efficient.
I’ll sure miss seeing him around town.
Cathy Verry RN
Deepest condolences to the entire Kellard family. I have many memories of Doc, but perhaps the most vivid is him putting my patella back into place after a football injury. I’ll never forget him grabbing the leg above and below the knee and saying with his dry sense of humor:”Michael, this is gonna hurt you more than it hurts me.” And then in a flash it was back in place. I think so many of us have similar stories of his tremendous service at the Hunt Emergency room, where he treated the town and it’s residents with care and compassion, and sometimes a necessary sense of humor. Rest In Peace Doc.
Mike Landers
It was great to work with Dr K, in the Hunt ED. We never knew what was going to come in next and he kept us all going thru thick and thin. Even on our busiest days he kept his good humor and made sure that we all did too! My deepest sympathy to Mary and the family..It was my pleasure and honor to have been fortunate enough to work with him..
Best Regards
Lark DuPont
Mary-Lark B.Dupont,RN MSN,CIC