Arthur Kelley, a life-long Douglaston resident, dies Dec. 6. He was in his 80s.
He was born in the neighborhood in 1924 and was a signalman in the U.S. Navy during World War II, serving in the Pacific theatre.
Kelley was an original member of the Udalls Cove Preservation Committee. He was an active member of the board of directors for many decades, right up to his death.
His professional life was devoted to teaching. Kelley taught high school science in Great Neck, L.I. He was an avid naturalist who for many years lead groups of students and others on tours of the wetlands areas now protected as the Udalls Cove Park & Preserve.
In the 1990s, Kelley founded PROBE, a citizen-based volunteer water quality monitoring organization. For many years, PROBE took water quality samples at various locations around Little Neck Bay. He maintained the data and shared it with state and local environmental agencies.
In his private live he was an avid sailor, piloting his sailboat over the waters of Little Neck Bay and beyond.
He is survived by his wife Dorothy and his children Arthur Jr. and Mary, as well as several grandchildren.
