Former Pittsburgh Press writer, local TV personality
David J. Kelly, whose aggressive but personable brand of award-winning journalism — including his “Golden Shaft award” — made him a popular part of Pittsburgh’s news media from the 1950s into the 1980s, died Sunday morning at the Brentwood Health and Rehab Center in Lecanto, Fla. He was 89.
A native of Lee, Mass., Mr. Kelly left high school in 1944 to serve in the Navy during World War II, where he was a signalman in the Pacific. Upon returning to Lee in 1947, he graduated from high school and attended the University of Maryland, where he became a campus correspondent for The Associated Press, The Baltimore Sun and The Washington Post.
After six months as a sports copy boy at the Post in 1952, he became a reporter, covering golf and high school sports. Two years later, he moved to the newspaper’s city desk as a cop reporter.
He came to Pittsburgh in 1957, where he joined The Pittsburgh Press as a feature writer and columnist with a focus on military affairs, becoming the first civilian reporter to fly an overseas rotation mission with a fighter squadron from Myrtle Beach Air Force Base.
Mr. Kelly joined KDKATV in spring 1961 as a writer for the local morning program and later was named news director at KDKA Radio. In 1964, he returned to TV, becoming station commentator for NBC affiliate WIIC, the forerunner of WPXI.
The next few years took him to Detroit and Washington, D.C., but in 1975, he came back to WPXI and a home in Upper St. Clair.
“He really did enjoy Pittsburgh,” said his son, David B. Kelly of Richm on d , Va . “W h e n he moved to D.C., his hours were tough and it kept him away from the house. And I don’t think he enjoyed that market as much. So when he got the chance to come back, [he and his wife, Betty] were really happy about it. They loved it.”
Pittsburgh proved to be the perfect fit for him and the people-oriented stories that became his trademark.
“His commentary and the Golden Shaft award brought him a lot of joy, uncovering certain things that weren’t being done right,” his son said. “It was nice. We would go to the store and people would come up to him and thank him for pointing things out.”
“Dave and I worked on a program called ‘The Actionline,’” said Rosemary Martinelli, a colleague during the 1980s. “They were consumer segments. And, with Dave’s background, he really transcended all forms of media. ... Because of his longevity in the Pittsburgh market, he had a vast network of contacts. So when they had ‘The Actionline,’ he was a natural for that. Consumer questions on anything — pot holes, bills — he knew who to call and how to navigate the network to get problems solved.
“Because of today’s technology, sometimes we don’t talk to people. We were always talking on the phone. He knew how to talk to people in government, business and on the street. He was so connected.”
Ms. Martinelli recalled a story they did in response to a viewer’s call about a deteriorating war memorial.
“We went out and looked at them,” she said. “And Dave, being a veteran himself, cared. That was so Pittsburgh, so Western Pennsylvania, to have those kinds of stories being told. He was like a folk hero.”
In January 1987, however, Mr. Kelly expressed his opposition to the TV station’s broadcast of footage showing the suicide of state Treasurer R. Budd Dwyer, Mr. Kelly’s son said.
“He didn’t think it was appropriate,” he said. “He had strong feelings about that.”
He retired later that year, eventually moving to Crystal River, Fla., where he became involved in the local Honor Guard, volunteering to speak at ceremonies for veterans.
“With his background, he did it well, and it was remarkable how much it touched the families,” his son said. “It was nice to see how important it was to them and him. He got a lot of joy out of that.”
Mr. Kelly will be buried in the National Cemetery in Bushnell, Fla., on Friday, following an 11 a.m. funeral.
Survivors include another son, James A. Kelly of Homosassa, Fla., daughter Amanda K. Haffenden of Summerville, S.C., and five grandchildren.