Franklin "Frank" Patton Kellom Jr.

Frank was born in Keene, NH, on December 22, 1929, to the late Franklin Patton Kellom, Sr. and Nellie (Plaistridge) Kellom.

Frank attended Winchester schools and then later transferred to Suffield Academy in Suffield, CT, where he took a course in floral design. This course inspired and developed Frank’s artistic abilities and Frank went on to own floral shops in Boston, MA and Austin, TX.

After returning to Keene, NH, Frank worked at American Optical for a time and then went on to work at Cheshire Medical as a radiology film technician, from where he retired.

Frank hosted many of his trips to NYC over the years during the Christmas season where he loved to introduce people to Broadway shows, Central Park, the Christmas Show at Rockefeller Center, and city life in general.

In 1987, Frank took a bus trip to see the AIDS Memorial Quilt in Boston which began his involvement in educating others about the disease. Lectures, trips to Washington D.C. to view the AIDS quilt (which spanned 14 acres), projects, presentations, and a private AIDS phone line out of his home was his passion for many years.

In 2022, Frank was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award for decades of achievement and contributions to the HIV/AIDS awareness from the Keene Pride Organization.

In addition to his parents, Frank was predeceased by his sister, Ruth Kellom.

Frank’s direction was to have his body donated to Dartmouth Medical School for medical research and teaching purposes. In keeping with Frank’s wishes, there will be no services. Burial will be held at a later date in the family lot at Evergreen Cemetery in Winchester, NH.

Donations in Frank’s memory are suggested to be made to the Monadnock Humane Society, 101 West Swanzey Road, Swanzey, NH 03446 (www.MonadnockHumaneSociety.org) or to the American Diabetes Association, PO Box 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116 (www.Diabetes.org).