Jeffrey Darrow Kelley of Williams-town died Thursday, Oct. 18 at his home. He was 55.

He was born in Oak Bluffs on Nov. 2, 1951, a son of Robert and Dorothy Scott Kelley. He was a summa cum laude graduate of Boston College. He traveled to Europe, South America and the Middle East to set up new financial technologies, researched new learning programs for such organizations as the Educational Testing Service, developed new methods to prove the value of human capital in corporations and government and formed new collaborations to begin transforming health care. Recently he was employed with museums and bookstores, including Northshire Bookstore in Manchester, Vt.

He was a man of great passion and devotion for his family. Among his many interests were reading, art, music, world events, history, humor and hiking, from his childhood on the shores of Martha’s Vineyard to decades of exploring the landscape of the Berkshires and Vermont. His wit and charm were famous among all who knew him.

Survivors include his father and mother, Robert and Dorothy Scott Kelley of Edgartown; his wife of 35 years, Pamela N. Stiller Kelley (his sweetheart since high school on the Vineyard, whom he married June 3, 1972 on the Vineyard); a daughter, Emily Darling and her husband John of Bondville, Vt.; two sons, Ethan Kelley and his wife Linton Jack of Williams-town and Toronto, Canada, and Seth Kelley, a student at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Me.; one sister, Shirley Cioffi and her children Robin, Eric, Suzanne and Brian; two sisters in law, Gayle Stiller and her husband Bill, and Goodie Corriveau and her husband David; a brother in law, Neal Stiller and his wife Janet and their children Megan and Benjamin; and his mother in law Ruth Stiller. He was predeceased by a brother, Robert Kelley Jr. He also leaves several grandnieces, grandnephews and many friends. And his faithful canine companion Zack.

Interment will be private with a memorial service to be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers or donations, his family asks those who wish, to celebrate his life by simply spending a moment outdoors in his memory.

Arrangements are being handled by the Flynn and Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals in North Adams.