Robert Ellis Kelly; Retired L.A. School District Official

Robert Ellis Kelly, a career educator who served one turbulent year as superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, has died. He was 87.

Kelly died Saturday in Los Angeles, one month after the death of his wife of 60 years, Marian, a high school teacher of French and Latin.

Capping a four-decade career with the Los Angeles schools, Kelly was named interim superintendent early in 1970 after the resignation of Jack Crowther. He later took his name out of the running for the permanent post and retired Jan. 10, 1971, his 63rd birthday. William J. Johnston then assumed the superintendent’s post.

Kelly’s year at the helm encompassed a bitter dispute between teachers and administrators that peaked in a 23-day strike in the spring of 1970 by the United Teachers-Los Angeles.

After his retirement from the school district, Kelly became an educational consultant on management and personnel with the firm of Joiner, Kelly, Julian and Dalany.

A native of Los Angeles, Kelly earned his bachelor’s and doctoral degrees from UCLA and his master’s from USC. He began his career teaching mathematics at Audubon Junior High School and later taught at Dorsey High School.

He then moved into administration as boys vice principal at LaFayette Junior High School, vice principal of Dorsey High School and then principal of Narbonne High School.

Kelly took time out from school duties to spend World War II as a captain in the Army Air Corps teaching mathematics to navigators and bombardiers. After his discharge in 1945, he became principal of Eagle Rock High School.

In 1953, Kelly became director of assignments for all Los Angeles high schools, and from 1955 to 1968 was head of the district’s high schools.

He later described the period as “the greatest thrill I had . . . the district practically doubled in size.”

“We did one heck of a job surviving the growth,” he told The Times at his retirement in 1971.

Kelly is survived by his son, Robert Jr., two granddaughters and one great-granddaughter.

Services are scheduled at 11 a.m. today at Grace Chapel, Inglewood Park Cemetery.

The family has requested that any memorial donations be made to the donor’s favorite charity.