Thomas Michael Kelly passed away February 3, 2018. He was the founder and artistic director of the Thistle Dew Dessert Theatre and a prolific playwright of contemporary, historical and children's plays. He was an award-winning producer and set builder. He taught playwriting classes for the Learning Exchange, produced stage and radio plays, and mentored many community theater actors, directors, and playwrights. He was born to Thomas E. and Kathryn Kelly on January 5, 1940, in Muscatine, Iowa. He served as a U.S. Marine. He was a graduate of Orange County Community College of New York and Lincoln Law School. He is survived by wife Eleanor Lediard Kelly, sons Thomas (Debra) Kelly and Patrick (Chau) Kelly, grand-children Connor Kelly and Aislinn Kelly, sister Judith Viner (Robert), brothers Joseph (Kas) Kelly and Michael (Jacque) Kelly.
A memorial will be held March 10, 2018, at 2:00 pm at the Thistle Dew Dessert Theatre, 1901 P Street, Sacramento, CA.