Remembering Tim Kennelty

By Katy Flammia

Timothy John Kennelty, known to everyone as Tim and remembered with love and affection passed away on October 10, 2026.  He was a man who lived with purpose, intelligence, kindness, humor and an enduring commitment to making the world better than he found it. He was born on August 9, 1958, in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and he passed away in Taghkanic, New York, after a courageous battle with stomach cancer. 

Tim built a life grounded in learning and service. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in political science from Union College and later received his Juris Doctor from Syracuse Law School.  He had a 30-year career in New York City, working in print and digital products that served the legal community. He made his mark through leadership, innovation, and a clear understanding of how information can empower people. He served as Executive Editor at LexisNexis and later as Vice President of Product Development at ALM. In these roles, he helped shape tools and resources that supported legal professionals and advanced the work of the field. He retired in 2015, leaving behind a record of accomplishment that reflected both excellence and integrity. 

Beyond his professional life, Tim was a man of deep community commitment and active stewardship. After retiring, he lived full-time in Columbia County, in the Town of Taghkanic, where he became an important part of the fabric of that place. He helped establish the Taghkanic Talks and Taghkanic Walks series, served on the Town of Taghkanic Conservation Advisory Committee and the Board of the Columbia Land Conservancy, and was a founding member and supporter of the Taghkanic Community Forest. Tim was a master gardener and was happiest in the garden and the natural world, or talking about gardening with native plants– with numerous talks at local venues, as well as co-founder and co-host of the podcast, Nature Calls Conversations from the Hudson Valley. He believed in conservation, in thoughtful land stewardship, and in the power of local action to create lasting good.

His example reminds us that one person’s dedication can strengthen an entire region. He did not wait for change. He helped create it. He did not speak only of values. He lived them. Tim is survived by his beloved husband and life partner of 38 years, Harris Spylios, his sister Pam (Staves), his brother-in-law Tim Staves, his mother Millie, his many devoted friends in NYC and Columbia County and his two comfort dogs, Sam and Theo. 

He was a person who brought strength, humor, warmth, and wisdom to those around him, and his presence made life richer for many. Those who knew him will remember his intelligence, his steady character, and his wry sense of humor. Tim lived with intention. He reminds us that a life well lived is one rooted in purpose and sustained by action. His journey stands as an example of how to meet the world with curiosity, kindness, humor and heart. His legacy will continue in the people he loved and inspired.

Donations may be made in Tim’s memory to the Columbia Land Conservancy (49 Main St. Chatham, NY 12037) in support of Tim's Woods at the Taghkanic Community Forest.