Kelly Fero passes away
Democratic consultant Kelly Fero has been found dead in his Austin home. Condolences to his family.
Mike Lavigne remembers him thus:
The passing of Kelly Fero is a tremendous loss to those of us who knew him. Personally, I am crushed. He was my mentor and my good friend. Most who read this will only know him from the political wake he leaves behind. No doubt, those who had ever sided with or against him left the field of battle with a hard earned respect for his ample abilities in that realm. Word of his hiring struck fear into the hearts of many an opponent over the years. What I loved about Kelly is that these battles were only a single facet of what was a gem of a life.The rest is below the jump.
I am hardly qualified to take a lens to that gem. His amazing and able wife, Mary, or the children he loved so much can probably recite the highlights of his many lives. There are a few things that I think everyone should know about him right now though:
Kelly was a writer. Whether it was ghostwriting an editorial, crafting a fiery mail piece, or compiling the finer points of state health care policy, Kelly's work was way above the average pablum we see in this business. His years as a journalist, editor and author would never allow him drop those standards even for the smallest tasks and he took pride in that. For him, politics was as much (or more) about the writing as it was any other angle.
Kelly was a musician. As a teenager in 1960's Argentina he was part of a groundbreaking psychedelic rock band. Then, when the political environment forced a move for the young leftist to Mexico, he continued writing music and even hit the charts in that country. I believe that is where he began his career as a journalist as well, covering the Tlatelolco massacre in 1968 for a student newspaper.
Kelly treasured his family. For the past seven years or so Kelly and I communicated daily. Not just about politics either. He never missed an opportunity to brag on his beautiful grandchildren, ask me about my new baby, relate to me a story from his past, chat about music or a book I should read or patiently answer my life questions.
Yes, Kelly was a political force to be reckoned with. He was a master of the craft. But more importantly, Kelly lived a life of action and that may be the most important lesson we can learn from him.
I am choosing, at this early date, to remember this about Kelly Fero: He approached everything in life as a songwriter.
Posted by Evan @ 01/04/10 10:29 PM
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