[NHLakesChapter] Obituary for Rick Ely

[danatrahan at comcast.net]

Thank you for sharing Jody. Warm wishes for all that knew him.

 

Dana

 

From: NHLakesChapter <nhlakeschapter-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of randi62 via NHLakesChapter
Sent: Friday, February 6, 2026 1:14 PM
To: NFB of New Hampshire Lakes Region Chapter List <nhlakeschapter at nfbnet.org>
Cc: randi62 <randi62 at comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [NHLakesChapter] Obituary for Rick Ely

 

I am sorry to hear of yet another loss to our blind community. If you are in touch with his family and friends, please extend my deepest condolences.

 

Randi Wilson 

 

Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone

 

 

-------- Original message --------

From: Jody ianuzzi via NHLakesChapter <nhlakeschapter at nfbnet.org <mailto:nhlakeschapter at nfbnet.org> > 

Date: 2/6/26 10:36 AM (GMT-05:00) 

To: Monadnock Chapter NFB <nhlakeschapter at nfbnet.org <mailto:nhlakeschapter at nfbnet.org> > 

Cc: Jody ianuzzi <thunderwalker321 at gmail.com <mailto:thunderwalker321 at gmail.com> > 

Subject: [NHLakesChapter] Obituary for Rick Ely 

 

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 <mailto: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 <http://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 <http://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 <mailto:thunderwalker321 at gmail.com>  





"What's within you is stronger than what's in your way."  NO BARRIERS  Erik Weihenmayer

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