Richard “Dick” McKellar of Massapequa, NY, passed away peacefully at home this past Wednesday morning, February 9, 2022, with his son Paul beside him and daughter, Gaillee in his ear. Dick’s earthly guardian angels consisted of a phenomenal nursing team headed by Seamus Diver, the Oscar to his Felix. The McKellar family is forever grateful for the tireless care and companionship this collective of healthcare professionals provided Dick over the past several years.

Dick was a Bronx, NY native, born at home on Christmas Eve. He was the youngest of three sons born to Josephine (Kalucz) & Paul Kalinowski and raised along with his older brothers Charles (Betty) and Danny (Stella) Kalinowski. Blessed with both brawn and brains, he made full use of both while pursuing his education. The youngest Kalinowski, graduated from James Monroe High School and worked as a professional model to pay his way, as he earned his Bachelors degree at Michigan University and his Masters degree from Columbia University. Ever practical and not one for extra hassle or explanations, he decided to legally change his last name to McKellar, which he had been using as his “stage” name and earning his initial income and some industry name recognition.

He was a true polymath and a man of many passions and hobbies. In his younger days he travelled the world (backpacked through India), had a successful and lucrative run as a model and worked as an auctioneer for Sotheby’s, between auditions and his dream of performing on Broadway. Dick was a skilled cook, photographer and craftsman. He was a respected epicurean and passionate about movies, music, theatre, and sourcing and restoring antiques. Whether roaming the Houston Street markets, haggling with vendors in the garment district, or traversing Long Island to hit every estate sale, he was always on the look out for a diamond in the rough.

Eventually he settled into his second career in education, as a reading teacher and literacy specialist at Uniondale High School. There, he found not only in true vocation, as well as the love of his life, his beautiful wife JoAnn. They spent the rest of their careers working together, and raising their children Gaillee and Paul. He loved his role as Big Pa, to his beloved’s, Wee Ma and basked in pride and awe of his two grandchildren, Braidon Payne and Griffin Richard over the past two decades.

Dick lived his life fully, generously and honorably, while always sporting his signature rakish smile, rapier wit, benevolent sense of humor, and a laugh that could warm any heart. He was, truly, one of a kind, and an active parishioner of St. Rose of Lima for almost 50 years and enjoyed countless summers at the Biltmore Beach Club, family weekends at the Ruegge Ranch. He cherished lifelong friendships throughout his final days with the North Salem Contingent and the Grace Church Couples Club.

Richard is survived by a tremendous network of friends and a large, loving family, including son Paul, daughter Gaillee and son in law, Neil Fitzpatrick, grandsons Braidon and Griffin, nieces Betty Ann Berkmeir, Joanne Thornton(Chad), Nikki and Kellie Deegan, Alicia Werner(Bill) and Katie Carpenter (Brian), nephews Robert and Douglas, grandnephews, Michael (Berkmeir), Charles-Peter, Brendan and Justin. and his cherished sisters-in-law Mary Price, Anne Cresenzo (Joe) and Patricia Deegan.

Reposing at Massapequa Funeral Home, South Chapel, 4980 Merrick Road, Massapequa Park, NY 11762 on Sunday, February 13, 2022 from 1pm-5pm. Family Eulogies will begin at 4pm. A Mass of Celebration of the Liturgy of Christian Burial will be offered at 10am on Monday, February 14, 2022 at St. Rose of Lima R.C. Church, Massapequa, NY. Entombment to immediately follow at Pinelawn Memorial Park, Farmingdale, NY. For the most up to date information on services, please check back to the funeral home website at massapequafuneralhome.com