Donald Kiely

Donald Edward Kiely, 87, of Missoula, died on August 10, 2025, at home surrounded by the love and comfort of his family. Don died as a result of cumulative exhaustion from decades of striving and getting it done!

Don was born on January 5, 1938, to John J. Kiely and Margaret Donnelly Kiely in Waterbury, Connecticut and grew up in nearby Thomaston. In a Norman Rockwell-esque childhood, Don was an altar boy, had a paper route, played basketball and baseball, and worked for years at the local drugstore where he mastered the root beer float. He went to the movies for 10 cents every Saturday and never missed a high school dance. Don graduated from Fairfield University in 1960 with a degree in chemistry. He then attended The University of Connecticut (UConn) where he earned a PhD in organic chemistry. While there, he met Judy McNew, a fellow graduate student, with whom he fell deeply in love, a love he proclaimed daily. They were married in November 1963 by Don's brother, The Reverend Father Jack Kiely.

Don enjoyed both teaching and research, but he loved teaching the most. He began his career as a visiting professor at Wofford College. Following this, he spent two years doing research at The National Institutes of Health. His future teaching career began at The University of Alabama in Birmingham (UAB) where he taught for 29 years. He was a very popular and prolific professor who guided many students through their PhDs and thousands of pages of scholarly research. For a time, he directed the UAB's Institutional Review Board to ensure the highest ethical standards for the University's research projects.

Don was the founding editor for a prominent, peer-reviewed publication, The Journal of Carbohydrate Chemistry. He made numerous friends across the world through his editorial board. Judy, also a chemist, served as editorial assistant for many years. On a summer sabbatical in 1996 at the Shafizadeh Center for Wood and Carbohydrate Chemistry, The University of Montana (UM) asked Don to serve as the new Director of the Center. He accepted, moved with Judy to Missoula in 1997, and finished his academic career at UM in 2008. Don founded green chemical company Rivertop Renewables in 2008 to commercialize the research that he and his graduate students developed at UM.

Don loved music and performance. He sang in church choirs, barbershop quartets and choruses, and the MOLLI chorus. Don played the chromatic harmonica and in his early 80's persuaded friends Jane (pianist) and Garon Smith (bassist) to form a trio "Feeling So Young."  Don loved performing and the group rocked the standards at churches, small venues, and nursing homes around town.

Don and Judy were lifelong basketball fans for UAB, UConn, and they were perennial fanatics for Lady Griz basketball.

Don was incredibly kind and genuinely interested in all people, no matter their age or station. He lived energetically and enthusiastically, and his children say that he was the best teacher, coach, and cheerleader any child could ask for. He was brave, too, taking all three of his children fishing in a boat or on a pier many times, sparking their interest in the natural world.

Don is preceded in death by his parents John and Margaret and his brother Jack. Don is survived by his wife Judy; his children Lauren (Jeff) Kiely Willis, Daniel (Kay Grissom-Kiely) Kiely, and Jason (Gita Saedi Kiely) Kiely; eight grandchildren; and several nephews and nieces.

A memorial service honoring his life will be held at Spirit of Peace Community Hall, 506 Toole Avenue, Missoula on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at 5:30 pm.