Cuyahoga Falls—Gene Kelly, 83, of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, died peacefully on June 17, 2026, surrounded by family.

Gene has crossed the final finish line.

Before he passed, he spoke of being together again with Nornie, his wife of 35 years, and talked about how she supported him in a multitude of ways, including his many athletic endeavors. Gene was very active in sports, including water skiing, snow skiing, windsurfing, tennis, and golfing. But his lifelong passion was track and field. He participated in track and field for over 60 years as competitor, coach, and official (with USATF and OHSAA).

In 2023, Gene achieved All-American status in the hammer throw and weight throw with national rankings of 30th and 22nd respectively. He also ranked 13th in the nation in the weight pentathlon. He won a gold medal in the hammer throw in the 2019 Ohio Senior Olympics and was inducted into the Ohio Senior Olympics Hall of Fame and the Summit County Sports Hall of Fame. Most recently, he medaled in hammer throw in the 2024 Pan-American Masters Games.

He loved cheering on his six kids and 11 grandkids in their sporting and arts endeavors, from track and field to soccer, volleyball, marching band, football, baseball, drama and more, and he enjoyed coaching his kids’ soccer teams. Gene said often that he was extremely proud of his combined family, spending 35 very happy years with Nornie until ALS took her from him.

Born in Far Rockaway, New York, Gene grew up mostly on Long Island, with stints in Hawaii and Massachusetts. Known to childhood friends and family as Skip, he loved the sea, took advantage of any opportunity to be on a boat, and worked as a high school lifeguard at the beaches around Southampton, New York. He graduated from Southampton High School and C.W. Post College of Long Island.

He dedicated his career to education, doing master’s and doctoral work at Miami University of Ohio and working as a speech correctionist and middle school and high school assistant principal and principal. He was proud of helping many kids in academics and athletics through his 30-year career. Gene was a member of the National Honorary Fraternity of Higher Education (Phi Delta Kappa), the National Association of Secondary School Principals, and the Ohio Association of Secondary School Principals. As an outgrowth of his interest in public service, he served on the Civil Rights Commission for the City of Stow and the Public Safety Services Commission (including chairmanship). More recently, he volunteered for Meals for Wheels and local food banks.

Gene was widely known as a warm, inclusive storyteller who loved gatherings of friends and family and who could strike up a conversation with anyone and everyone. He participated in drama in high school and college. Later in life, while principal at Hubbard High School, he was drafted into West Side Story, playing “Doc.” He was also delighted to be asked to participate in The Wizard of Oz at Hubbard, playing a member of the Lollipop Guild, which came as a complete surprise to all the students. (Even the other Guild members had to rehearse in private and were sworn to secrecy.) Up until his final moments, he was finding joy in telling stories and jokes.

Preceded in death by his wife, Nora Kelly (née Pearce), Gene is survived by his sister, Kathy Kelly and spouse Lenny Stein; his six children and their spouses, Brian Kelly and Caitlin Sticco, Bud and Stephanie Kalbaugh, Jennifer and Dave Bernay, Matt Kelly and Amy Goltz, Mike and Angie Kalbaugh, Scott and Yuko Kelly; and 11 grandchildren, Aidin, Andrew, Ben, Daniel, Emma, Kayleigh, Logan, Michael, Paul, Quinn, and Ryan.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 AM June 27, 2026, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church 1905 Portage Trail, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223. Followed by a private interment.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish to make memorial donations can do so at one of Gene’s favorite charities:

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital stjude.org

Toys for Tots toysfortots.org

Doctors Without Borders doctorswithoutborders.org

ALS Society als.org

American Lung Association American Lung Association