David Hadley Kelsey

Kelsey, David Hadley - Born in Norfolk, Nebraska on June 2, 1937, David passed away January 12, 2022. David was preceded in death by parents Hadley & Helen, son Michael, brother Charles and wife Barbara Comiskey. He is survived by his wife Karin, Sister-in-law Judith, sons Thomas Hadley & wife Edie, Kevin Earl & wife Candice and daughter Elizabeth Marie, and grandchildren Thomas Hadley Jr, Vivian Brynne, Edith Elise, MiKailie Dale, Brooklyn Elizabeth, Georgia Rae Jean, Israel Marlene, Michael David, and Aralia Kelsey Willits. He is also survived by his nephews James, Robert, nieces Kathleen & Cynthia, and all of the Comiskeys.

David began his work life at JCPenney and worked there throughout high school and college. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame with his BSC in 1960 and JD in 1961. He was admitted to the New Mexico State Bar in 1961, but shortly after was stationed in Baltimore with the Army's Counterintelligence Corps. In 1963 he practiced as a generalist with trial attorney Joe Smith until 1967. David was a founding shareholder of Atkinson & Kelsey established in 1967. In 1973 they became the first law firm in New Mexico to specialize in divorce law. In 1968 and 1970, New Mexico voters mandated that he remain a lawyer after two failed attempted to run for Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico. He is known as the "Grandfather of Divorce Law" in New Mexico after practicing law for over 50 years. Atkinson and Kelsey became the oldest and one of the largest law firms in New Mexico devoted exclusively to the practice of divorce and family law under his tutelage. He taught Advanced Family Law at the University of New Mexico Law School, had lectured nationally and internationally on family law over 80 times and written extensively on family law subjects for more than 30 years. He mentored countless young attorneys and helped grade New Mexico State Bar exams. He wrote the New Mexico Divorce Manual and co-authored the New Mexico Domestic Relations Manual. He was the first NM family law attorney to be listed in Best Lawyers and the only lawyer listed in all New Mexico editions. He was the first family law attorney to receive Martindale-Hubbell "AV" rating, and on the National Law Journal's List of Top 43 Divorce Lawyers. Member and officer of American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the first NM attorney to be a member of AAML Board of Governors. He was the only NM attorney in the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and International Society of Family Law. He was the first family law attorney to serve as President of the New Mexico State Bar. He was the first attorney to be recognized as a family law specialist by New Mexico Supreme Court. He was a founding fellow of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, a founding diplomate of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers and New Mexico Board of Legal Specialization Recognized Specialist in Family Law. He was awarded numerous ethics awards by various organizations and his peers. In addition to his vast professional career, he was a devout Catholic who attended mass daily until he was unable to.

David served on various nonprofit boards, was the chair of the New Mexico Thomas More Society and its annual Red Mass. He was a member of the Religious Studies Board of the University of New Mexico and Catholic Charities of Central New Mexico. He was active in the Jewish-Catholic Dialogue and was a Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. He founded and organized First Friday Mass and Red Mass for Catholic divorce attorneys in Albuquerque.

David was a lifelong Democrat, passionate about national and local politics and would regularly donate his time and energy to various political campaigns. In his free time, he and his daughter spent many years making retablos in their garage, and every weekend he could be found watching Notre Dame football. He was a longtime member of the Tennis Club of Albuquerque and after retirement, played bridge at the Albuquerque Bridge Club. Above all, David was a teacher, mentor, friend, everyone's favorite uncle, beloved father and grandfather, and his family was the most important thing to him. The world is less colorful without his stories, and we will miss him dearly. Funeral services will be held on March 11th. Rosary will take place at 10:00am and the funeral mass at 11:00am at Saint John the 23rd Catholic Church, 4865 Tramway Ridge. Masks required. The family has requested that remembrances be made in the form of contributions to Catholic Charities of Albuquerque.