It has come to our attention that we are rapidly losing members of our community, friends and supporters of ACB. In order to honor these people whose lives have impacted us, in large and small ways, we are publishing this column. See below for the format in which to submit information.
Obituary Format
Please include as much of the following information as possible when submitting material for this column. Submissions must involve dates no more than six months from intended date of publication.
- Name (first, last, maiden if appropriate)
- City of residence (upon passing)
- State/province of residence (upon passing)
- Other cities/states/countries of residence (places where other blind people may have known this person)
- Occupation
- Date of death (day if known, month, year)
- Age
- ACB affiliation (local/state/special-interest affiliates or national committees)
KELLS, FRANK
Frank Kells, life member of the American Council of the Blind, passed away quietly in his sleep on March 25, 2010. Kells, a long-time advocate for people with disabilities, especially the blind, had been suffering with a disease causing brain stem deterioration for several years.
Frank was instrumental in getting the radio reading service, Sun Sounds of Arizona, started because he felt blind people deserved the opportunity to have access to newspapers and other written material. He also worked tirelessly to get the Arizona Center for the Visually Impaired started in Phoenix, and devoted his efforts to get the Arizona Council of the Blind and the southern Arizona chapter up and running.
Frank's family requested that anyone wishing to make a donation in Frank's memory, please do so to the Lions Foundation, 1016 N. 32nd St., Suite 5, Phoenix, AZ 85008.
LACY, CALVIN
Calvin Lacy, 53, of Raleigh, N.C., passed away March 12, 2010. Calvin was a member of the board of the North Carolina Council of the Blind and president of the Raleigh-Wake chapter. A graduate of the Governor Morehead School for the Blind, he was employed initially by the Raleigh Lions Clinic and more recently by LC Industries in Durham. Calvin is survived by his wife Barbara, his mother, four sisters, two brothers and many friends who appreciated his willingness to help with any task and his fervent love of life.
LEVY, RITA
Rita Levy, 62, of Victor, Idaho, died Dec. 26, 2009 of an abdominal infection.
Rita was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on Dec. 4, 1947. She grew up in New York City, where she was educated under a program of public education for blind students. She excelled in music as well as in languages, earning advanced degrees at Hofstra University in New York. She eventually became both a concert pianist and a professional harpist.
From 1971 to 1997, Rita taught music to children from kindergarten through eighth grade in the Bridgeport, Conn., public school system. She was a charter member of the ACB affiliate Friends-in-Art, for approximately 10 years a member of ACB's Connecticut state affiliate, and most recently a member of the ACB Diabetics in Action.
Rita is survived by her husband, Donald Coleman, also of Victor, Idaho.