[NHLakesChapter] Obituary for Rick Ely

[Melissa & Todd Abbott]

Thank you Jody for updating us. My heart is full for his family, friends,
and beloved pets. Wishing peace for healing and acceptance.

Kindly,
Melissa

On Fri, Feb 6, 2026 at 10:36 AM Jody ianuzzi via NHLakesChapter <
nhlakeschapter at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> I'm afraid I have to share more sad news
>
>
> Dr. Richard Peter Ely of Greenfield, Massachusetts passed peacefully away
> on January 12, 2026.  He is survived by his daughter Ceridwyn Murphy, her
> husband Alex and his sister Joan Stasiak.  Rick also leaves his beloved
> Seeing Eye Dog, General, who now happily wags his tail in the home of his
> daughter, Ceridwyn.
>
> Rick was born on November 18, 1947 in Youngstown, Ohio.  He married Mary
> Lynn Balsley in August 1971. In 1976 they moved from Culver, Indiana after
> having accepted teaching positions at the Northfield/Mount Hermon School in
> Northfield, Massachusetts. It was there they adopted their daughter,
> Ceridwyn on March 17, 1989.
>
> Having been born with Stargardt Disease, a genetic condition causing
> progressive vision loss, Rick was provided the life-long challenge of
> living with a vision loss in a sighted world. Though often challenged, he
> chose not to let it defeat him or deter his aspirations and life goals.
> He earned a BA from Hiram College, an MA in English from Kent State
> University, a Doctorate (Ed.D.) from Harvard, and a Certificate of Advanced
> Studies in Film from Wesleyan University.
>
> Rick was an active member in the New England chapter of the Association
> for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually,  AERBVI. His
> career, spanning over four decades, included a variety of positions within
> the local schools and blind services communities. He worked as a Teacher
> for Blind Children with The Carroll Center for the Blind and was
> Coordinator of the Western Massachusetts Outreach Program through the
> Perkins School for the Blind. In the later portion of his career Rick was
> Director of his own consulting business called En-Vision. From
> 1990-1995 Rick worked for WGBH as its Project Director in the development
> of the Descriptive Video Service.
>
> Rick was cremated and no formal service occurred. Friends of Rick are
> planning a small Celebration of Life to occur in the early spring, if you
> are interested in joining us, please email: Jude Bischoff at
> cilantroannie at gmail.com.
>
> One of Rick’s loves were his exotic parrots, who needed to find new homes
> when Rick made the move to New Jersey in late 2024. Foster Parrots, Ltd. in
> Rhode Island, assisted in this. It would make Rick smile if he knew
> donations in his name were sent to this wonderful organization. (www:
> fosterparrots.com) Additionally, General was such a major part of his
> later life, donations in Rick’s name could also be made to The Seeing Eye
> (www: seeingeye.org)
>
> Rick’s full obituary with photos can be found at the Everloved Website,
> see link below:
>
> https://everloved.com/life-of/richard-ely/
>>
>
> Rick, Thanks for the memories!
>
>>
>>
> JODY
>
> To Boldly Go  🖖🏻
>
>
> thunderwalker321 at gmail.com
>
> "What's within you is stronger than what's in your way."  NO BARRIERS
>  Erik Weihenmayer
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