Kelley-LaCambria, Cornelia A. of Jamaica Plain, MA and Jacksonville Beach, FL passed away peacefully at the age of 75 on January 21, 2023 in Jacksonville following a brief illness. Born in Boston to her beloved parents, the late Francis and Marguerite (O’Leary) Kelley. She was the adored wife of the late Luco LaCambria. Predeceased by her dear brother-in-Law, Anthony F. LaCambria and her close friend and colleague, Ruthann Kelley-Russell. She leaves in mourning Paula Power of Quincy, her beloved aunt as well as her sister, Rosemary and brother-in-law, Thomas Boyle of Dunstable, MA. She is survived by many cousins and friends and will be especially missed by Jennifer and Christopher Bernard and their children Lucas, Weiland, Larkin and Killian whom she loved as adopted family and who provided support and care during her final days as well as years of companionship to her and Luco. Cornelia served the students of the Boston Public Schools for decades, first at Brighton High School and then for three decades at the Boston Latin School, where in 1998 she was named the prestigious school’s 26 th Headmaster and was the first woman to hold that role. In recognition of that achievement and a career dedicated to advancing the lives of Boston’s youth, she was bestowed honorary degrees by Simmons University and Boston College, among many other professional accolades. Following retirement from BPS, she remained active in The Headmasters’ Society and enjoyed leading international accreditation teams for the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Cornelia was a graduate of Notre Dame Academy, where she served one year as President ad interim, and Newton College of the Sacred Heart. She was deeply committed to her Catholic faith and in 2017 was elected as a Dame of Malta.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend visiting hours at Joseph Russo Funeral Home, 814 American Legion Highway, Roslindale, MA on Thursday, February 2 from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m., with a funeral mass at Holy Name Church, West Roxbury, MA, to follow at 11:00 a.m. Committal prayers will be at St. Michael’s Cemetery Chapel, Roslindale, and Cornelia will be laid to rest with her husband Luco at Saint Michael Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Cornelia’s memory to the Boston Latin School Association, 27 School Street, Suite 300, Boston, MA 02108 (www.blsa.org).