Norman Kellar

Norman Kellar, farmer, lawyer, horticulturalist, died on June 26, 2012, at the age of 98. Norman grew up on a farm in Ellenville. He rode a pony to the local one-room schoolhouse and graduated from Ellenville High School in 1932. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and graduated from Fordham Law School in 1938. Discouraged by the economic realities of practicing law during the Great Depression, he returned to farming and pursued that career for nearly thirteen years. He and his wife, Tullia, purchased the Bontecou Farm in 1944, where he lived until his death. In the early years, he had a herd of 100 registered Holstein cattle, 5000 chickens, and raised a variety of field crops. Norman returned to the practice of law in the early 1950's, but continued farming and established a herd of 90 purebred Black Angus cattle. In 1955, Norman started his own law firm, which is now known as Kellar, Kellar & Jaiven. Sharp of mind to the very end, he marked his 98th birthday researching aspects of the New York State Constitution online for a client. Norman had a passion for horticulture, which he pursued for more than 90 years. At his farm, he grew a wide variety of unusual trees and ornamental shrubs. He built a greenhouse which was filled with orchids which he collected from around the world. Norman maintained a fruit orchard and a huge vegetable garden. At age 98, he was still making his own chutneys, jams, pickles and soups from produce which he raised on the farm. His wife, Tullia P. Kellar, predeceased him. He is survived by three children, Laura Kellar and her husband, Edward Curtz, of Rosendale, Jane I. Kellar of High Falls, and Paul T. Kellar and his wife, Jane C. Kellar, of Kingston. He is also survived by five grandchildren. Expressions of sympathy may be made in the form of contributions to the Wallkill Valley Land Trust or to the Mohonk Preserve, Inc.