A legendary pioneer in the world of adult ADHD, Kate Kelly, has passed away.
After a full and rich life she lost a long battle with cancer.
Thousands of people had the pleasure of knowing Kate in person and having their lives made better for the experience.
If you have seen Kate through our online videos and our programs, you’ll know her as a wise, generous, crusader for the cause.
Kate is best known to ADDers for, “You Mean I’m Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy?!” She co-wrote this amazing book with Peggy Ramundo, when there was little information or acceptance around ADHD in adults. Putting out the book took a pioneer spirit, courage and audacity.
It became the first bestseller to explore adult ADHD/ADD in a comprehensive way. As Kate told me, “There was nothing out there so we felt like we have to cover everything.” Published on a shoestring, even before the legendary ‘Driven To Distraction’ hit the shelves, it brims with humor and humanity.
If you don’t own a copy, get one. To read the book is to know Kate and Peggy. To see her in our videos is to sense her kindness and commitment.
I only met her once, when I interviewed her for our documentary ADD & Loving It?! At first she was a little wary of a comedian talking about a subject she had devoted her life to healing. I’m sure she was concerned we were going to mock the disorder. As we spoke, she quickly relaxed, and soon had us both in tears.
In the three hours we spent together talking I was impressed by her knowledge and her determination. And by how much she loved her family. We still have footage that we will be sharing from that long conversation.
My wife Ava never had the pleasure of meeting Kate in person, but because Kate’s book was part of the first PBS ‘premium pledge package’ they spoke many times. They bonded instantly and Kate once said to me, “I wish I had an Ava.”
Kate was down to earth, accepting, and open. But not a pushover. She was driven by a strong sense of justice and a desire to make a difference. And she did. As a nurse and then an author, coach, minister, and many other roles.
Many thanks to our friend and blogger Zoë Kessler, who called this morning in tears to share the sad news. Ava and I are so sad.
Kate, you will be missed. And all of us left behind will be called upon to step up and fill the space that you have left. This world will never be the same now that you are gone and this world will never be the same because of you.
Love, Rick & Ava
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I just ordered You Mean I’m Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy?! after seeing this announcement. I look forward to reading Kate and Peggy’s words, and learning more about this wonderful woman who helped pave a way for us.
wow, i have been soo out of touch with the world. this was one of the first books i got and still have. i threw away aot of ADD books but this one and driven to distraction are the two i kept.
sad news.
rest in peace
Kate and I used to call ourselves the “Bobbsey” Twins, many folk not really knowing who was Kate and who was Peggy. We were simply “Kate and Peggy”. For 30 years, most of our adult lives, we travelled a shared personal, professional, and Spiritual journey. Until September 13 when our paths diverged, Kate taking one where I couldn’t follow.
Kate didn’t really lose her battle against Bladder Cancer; that’s not really the way it was. Oh, she was frightened and depressed during the first months after her initial diagnosis in January and we railed in anger at the unfairness of the “fates”. We also hugged and laughed a lot. Like the day my irreverent sense of humor had us giggling like school kids while I filled out her Living Will and Kate sat with her Chemo IV drip. No, Kate didn’t concede defeat to her disease not did she fight it. Instead, believing as I do that “All is in Divine Order”, she calmly and gracefully accepted the outcome, whatever it was to be.
Rick and Ava, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your wonderful tribute to Kate. For me, she was all that you said she was and more. . .
This is sad news. “You Mean I’m Not Lazy, Crazy or Stupid” was one of the first books on ADHD I read after my diagnosis. What a treasure. And what a relief to know I wasn’t the only one who felt this way.
I hope she knew what a difference she made in the lives of so many.
My thoughts and prayers go out to her family. She was on my “I got to meet this person” list. Unfortunately, this list keeps getting shorter and shorter as the world is deprived of their presence.
I’m sad about this, I hate cancer. Really good info and I totally agree on classrooms being a nightmare. I wondered in school if adults even liked us, forcing us to sit in classrooms all day as children. Did they not remember what that was like? I’m grateful for her contributions and compassion. I have procrastinated reading this book but it’s going to be promoted to the top of my “next to read” pile.
Kate would love knowing how much of a difference she has made.
Perhaps what makes her such a powerful voice is that while she has a great deal of knowledge about ADHD, it is tempered with experience, and hard won victories. It was never theoretical for her, and her own suffering and struggle gave her such compassion for her fellow ADDers.
Dear Kate, it’s hard to believe that you are gone. I just watched your video again and enjoyed once more listening to your kind voice and spirit. You have been a source of inspiration and wisdom for all that struggle with ADD/ADHD. You will continue to be so and you will remain always in our hearts.
With infinite gratitude.
Dear Rick & Ava, thank you for introducing us to Kate. Your tribute is beautiful.
Love and condolences to Kate’s family.