Sail On

[Editor]

Brian Kelly, 53, longtime Long Island sailor and sailmaker died Tuesday morning after a courageous battle with cancer. Owner of Quantum Sails, Port Washington, NY. Beloved son of Doris and the late Joseph. Loving brother of Lynn Donohue (Peter). Dear cousin of Karen. Cherished uncle of Sean, Jocelyn, Elizabeth and Lindsay. Brian, who grew up on the sound, has been involved in sailing his whole life. He spent many years with the Doyle Sails group, before opening his his Quantum Sails loft 10 years ago. Brian was never happier than when he was sailing. His love for the sport came across in almost every conversation he had. He had participated in all of the major sailing events on the East Coast, along with the Caribbean. For those of us who were fortunate to know Brian, he was a good man, with a good heart. He will be truly missed.

Visiting 2-4 and 7-9pm Friday, Whitting Funeral Home, 300 Glen Cove Ave., Glen Head, NY 11545. Funeral Service 10am Saturday at Christ Church, Oyster Bay, NY. Interment St. Patrick's Cemetery, Old Brookville, NY . Contributions may be made to Cancer Care, 20 Cross Ways Park North, Woodbury, NY 11797.

 

[NyJboat]

Truly a sad passing. I spent quite a few hours in that loft.

Sail on....

 

[footlong]

Sad

He was a good guy with a great sense of humor.

 

[Pooch692000]

only met him one time, but he was a nice ad very funny guy to chat with.

 

[dewey]

Sailed quite a bit with Brian and did business with him as well. A gentleman, great sailor, and all around good guy. He will definately be missed.

 

[Mtspeed]

Good guy that will be missed. Taught me how to sail, and always provided great service when I had a sail mishap.

Will will always remembr the "lollipop kid"

Sail-on Mtspeed

 

[peetoleeward]

Nice guy...bought a cusing asym from him about 6 years ago and always sent my sails there for winter service.

It was great to have a brand name sailmaker in town 10 minutes from the boat.

He always did a good job and will be missed.

What will happen to the loft?

 

[Schoonerman]

Damnitalltohell, we lose another great one.

Sail On Brian. May his family find some measure of peace soon.

Hope the community and staff rallies around the loft to help it stay alive.

 

[MacGregor_Lover]

Never got the chance to Sail with him but have shared a couple of flat beers at regattas also met him when i was a Launch Jokey. Good guy super nice.

Sail On Brian

 

[Kevlar Edge]

that sucks, i had the pleasure of working with Brian, he will be greatly missed by his clients and friends he was one of a kind

my best to his family and close friends

 

[artie_pitt]

Sad news, best wishes to his family.

 

[Greg Jarvis]

I worked there for a while.. until Moose threw me a lifeline told me of a better opportunity.

shame... he was damn young.

 

[ScowVegas]

My Condolences to His Family ~

Sail On Brother....Sail On

 

[leadmine]

Brian was a good-hearted man and a great friend of sailing. He'll be missed.

 

[xy17]

I sailed with Brian numerous times in the past. I will miss not being able to do that again. He truely was a pleasure to be around.

 

[CJV]

Rest in Peace.

We should be so lucky as to be so appreciated by kindred spirits.

CJV

 

[water ratz]

RIP, and condolances

 

[DTR]

What a shame. Brian was a super guy who never had a bad thing to say about another human being. He was always upbeat about life, even as he underwent chemotherapy. We should all take a page out of his book. Sail on Brian.

DTR

 

[Bill Fastiggi]

I'm sorry to hear this. Brian and I co-skippered an Etchells for a season in 1984 in LI sound. We had a lot of fun, and he was a great guy and a good sailor. Condolences to his family.