Monday, April 29, 2024
Adair Kelly Bainbridge, PA-C, of Manson passed away April 16, 2017, in Seattle, WA, from complications of a stem cell transplant, following a battle with leukemia. A husband, father, musician and healer, Kelly was born Sept. 10, 1952, in Torrance, CA. Following graduation from high school, Kelly earned a bachelor’s degree in Music from San Francisco State University and later, a nursing degree. He received a Physician Assistant Baccalaureate degree and certification from the Medex program at the University of Washington.
Kelly married his wife, the love of his life, Melanie August 26, 2000, and they have a son Dylan age 16 and daughter Greer age 12. He was very proud of his family and loved spending time with them. His fun-loving nature helped create a tight-knit unit. In addition to his family, Kelly’s biggest loves were music and his work as a physician assistant.
Music was Kelly’s core. Passionate about soul, big horn and funk, he was a talented musician and played in two bands, Brothers from Different Brothers (in Chelan) and Hobart and the Urban Horns (Seattle).Kelly sang, played the guitar, piano and conga drums.
A caregiver at heart, Kelly also loved helping people as both a nurse and a physician assistant. He began his medical career as a nurse for 17 years in the emergency room at Seattle’s Virginia Mason Medical Center. For the past 14 years, Kelly worked at Columbia Valley Community Health, Lake Chelan Community Hospital and Lake Chelan Clinic, most often in the emergency room and urgent care clinics. His compassion, humor and medical skill touched thousands of patients’ lives in the Lake Chelan Valley and beyond. He was adept at helping people feel at ease and was especially gentle with those in crisis.
Kelly also enjoyed sailing, fly fishing, reading an eclectic variety of books and spending time in the woods and at the ocean. One of Kelly’s favorite books was Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins.
“I do not fear death. I resent it. Everything must die, apparently, and I am no exception. But I want to be consulted. You know what I mean? Death is impatient and thoughtless. It barges into your room when you are right in the middle of something, and it doesn’t bother to wipe its boots”
Kelly was preceded in death by his parents, Maxine M Kelly and Wilfred Nicholas Bainbridge. He is survived by Melanie, his wife of 17 years; his son Dylan Bainbridge 16, his daughter Greer Bainbridge 12, his daughter from a previous relationship Frances Fleischman 30, and his two brothers: Dennis and Clark Bainbridge.
A Celebration of his Life will be held Saturday, June 17, 2017, at 1 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center at the Chelan High School. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Dylan and Greer’s College Fund, https://www.gofundme.com/bainbridge-kids-college-fund.
