David Kelly

South Lake Tahoe’s main advocate for the disabled has died.

David Joseph Kelly passed away in his sleep at his South Lake Tahoe home on Jan. 31, 2017. He was 73.

Kelly is the man behind Tahoe Senior Plaza, Kelly Ridge (named in his honor), and Sky Forest Acres. These three South Lake Tahoe developments are affordable housing for seniors and those with disabilities.

He was born Feb. 19, 1943. Though he lived with post-polio syndrome and was told he would not live a long life, he proved many doctors wrong.

He used to be a regular at City Council meetings. His involvement led him to being named an honorary firefighter by the South Lake Tahoe Fire Department.

In the early 1980s Kelly believed people were being mistreated locally. That’s when he started to become involved in local issues.

“I do it because it needs to be done,” Kelly told Lake Tahoe News in 2013.

For years he was the force behind the Tahoe Area Coordinating Council for the Disabled. He was also on several other boards related to the disabled. When businesses were being sued by an out of town attorney for ADA violations, Kelly worked with the locals.

His activism was noted by the many awards he received such as the Betty Davis Award for his exemplary service to the community, the Ellie O’Toole Humanitarian of the Year Award, as well as the ABHOW Presidential Citation Award.

Kelly’s legacy is evident by the housing he got built, as well as his family, whom he could never say enough about.

He is predeceased by his father, Lloyd Dunham. 

Kelly is survived by wife Coco; mother Patricia; sisters Patti (Dennis) and Debi (Bob); children Patty (Jimmy), Debbie (Myk), Joey (Scott,) and Jason (Allison); 14 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. 

Services will be at St. Theresa Catholic Church in South Lake Tahoe on Feb. 4 at 1:30pm. 

In lieu of flowers, donations to the family may be made to the family’s Fundly account to help cover costs of services.