David B. Kielson

Joyful, loving, kind, generous. Just a few of the words that describe David Kielson who died of COVID-19 on December 31, 2020. He is survived by his wife, Gail, his daughters and their spouses, Laurie (Jaime), Linda and Leslie (Liz). He has left a huge hole in our lives and in the lives of all who loved him. Dave made it so easy to love him because he exuded joy, warmth and love. David spent his life dedicated to his family. He and Gail were married for over 62 years. As a couple, they were an inspiration because of their enormous love and respect for each other. Right up to very end, Dave could make Gail laugh! They loved being together and would choose it over most other things. David was also an amazing father. He gave his daughters unconditional pure love, taking pride in our accomplishments, helping out whenever needed, showing up for all of the important and not so important events in our lives. He was so playful and loved to make people laugh with his deadpan, good-natured sense of humor! Dave loved being in nature – cross-country skiing, hiking, biking, gardening. He never stopped marveling at the beauty. Not a day went by without him raving about the beauty of the natural world – the blue sky, the sunrise, the birds, the autumn colors or any other small wonder. He always saw the beauty! David lived his values – the values he learned from his Jewish heritage – love, humility, empathy, service. He was truly committed to making the world a better place and to promoting social justice. Even when he worked long hours as an accountant in New Rochelle, NY, he found time to volunteer for organizations he believed in and that continued throughout his life. The full list of organizations would be way too long to name, but a few to which he dedicated himself were the MLK Day Care Center in New Rochelle, the Hilltown CDC in Chesterfield and the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. In every instance he gave his heart and soul, working tirelessly, usually in the realm of finance since that was his area of expertise, to help keep these crucial organizations solvent and able to accomplish their mission. David also served as a selectperson in the town of Chesterfield for 24 years. (He made sure to always use the non-sexist term of selectperson rather than selectman!) He believed in the adage “Think globally, act locally” and saw local government as a place where he could make a difference. He was on many town committees, including the finance committee, planning board, school building, senior housing, and green community committees. He also represented the town on the state level, serving on the board and as president of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, gaining respect from people throughout the state. In all of this work Dave remained incredibly humble, never interested in accolades or thanks. He did it from a place of conviction and selflessness. David spent his last 3 years as a resident of the Memory Care Unit at the Elaine Center at Hadley. And even there, afflicted by dementia, the essence of who he was as a person came through – singing, laughing, making funny faces to get others to laugh, gifting those around him with his beaming smile. It is not always easy to feel joy in a nursing home, but Dave made it happen! And consequently, he was loved by all! We are tremendously grateful to the staff there for the loving care that they gave him! We will hold a celebration of his life this spring or summer when it is safe to gather. Donations in his honor can be made to the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, 97 N Hatfield Rd, Hatfield, MA 01038 or Hilltown CDC, 387 Main Rd, Chesterfield, MA 01012.

David B. Kielson

April 25, 1935 - December 31, 2020