I just wanted to pass on word of the passing of Steve Kellner, a young but long time member of The Connecticut Trolley Museum. The obiturary is as follows:

Steven Wayne Kellner of 27 Pebble Place, Malden, Massachusetts, passed away unexpectedly on January 31, 2010, at the Melrose-Wakefield Hospital, in Melrose, Massachusetts. Prior to his death, Steven was employed by the Marriott Corporation. Steven was born in 1957 in Hartford, Connecticut. He graduated from Belmont (MA) High School where he learned to play the violin, achieving first chair in its orchestra. Subsequently, he graduated from Northeastern University with a degree in Chemical Engineering. During his early youth he had become enthralled by model railroading and was a frequent visitor to the Connecticut Trolley Museum, East Windsor, CT. There, over the course of his life, he continued to learn about operating and restoring the distinctly beautiful trolley and train cars in the Museum’s collection. He became one of their conductors, was promoted to Museum Curator and served as a long-standing member of its Board of Directors. He was a life-long student of transportation. Members of his family still fondly remember their trolley rides, especially during the festive winter months. Steve also served as a long-time volunteer at the Museum of Science in Boston, before he took up his position as coordinator of their Discovery Center. Steve used all of his time working in museums to teach and inspire thousands of visiting children and adults.

Although Steve lived with congenital heart disease, he experienced many adventures, including journeys in Great Britain, and trans-Canadian rail travel. His family and friends will miss Steve’s gentility, wicked sense of humor and thirst to learn and to share the knowledge he so eagerly took in.

His family includes his loving wife, Laura Fitzpatrick Geoghegan Kellner of Malden, MA; mother Marlene E. Kellner of Haverhill, MA; father Wayne G. (Ann) Kellner of Concord, MA; sister Lynne M. (Russell) Miller of Arlington, TX, and three nephews: David Ladetto, Justin Ladetto, Nicholas Pushee; aunt Karen E. (Alexander) Chapman; uncle Eugene H. (Linda) Staiger…and many wonderful friends.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Burke-Fortin Funeral Home, 76 Prospect Street, Rockville, CT (860) 875-5490. Family and friends are invited to gather at the funeral home for the service on February 8, Monday, at one o’clock pm. to celebrate Steve’s life. Burial will follow.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make memorial contributions can do so to the following organizations: Children’s Hospital Boston, 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA, 02115 ( www.chtrust.org) or Connecticut Trolley Museum, 58 North Road, E. Windsor, CT, 06088.

I am sure Steve will be missed by many who have know him through many organizations. Most of us are still in shock that this happened so suddenly.

Chris Chestnut
Long time friend