Legendary Broadway Cares Auctioneer Lorna Kelly Passes Away

Tom Viola, Executive Director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS turned to Facebook to announce the sad news that legendary BC/EFA auctioneer Lorna Kelly passed away on Wednesday, June 15th.

For years, Lorna Kelly worked as a fine arts auctioneer at Sotheby's in New York, and used her auction experience, special talents, and unique voice to raise funds and awareness for many causes, including BC/EFA. As a benefit auctioneer, Kelly helped that organization raise millions of dollars through its benefit auctions.

Viola's Facebook post follows:

There's an extra bit of heartache today at Broadway Cares. Lorna Kelly, BC/EFA's good friend and beloved longtime and legendary auctioneer passed away last night.

Lorna has been a part of BC/EFA's family for over 26 years. In September of '89, Equity Fights AIDS and Broadway Cares were working together to produce the 3rd Annual Broadway Flea Market. It was a much smaller affair, barely filling the length of Shubert Alley The idea of an auction to end the day had been attempted the year before but to rather lackluster results. None of us really knew how to build or present an auction and, as people outside of "the business" assume anyone can tap dance, we figured anyone could be auctioneer. Not so much. Our five lot, first attempt tanked, barely raising $1,500 and scarcely drawing attention from the friendly crowds in the Alley.

We decided to try again for our third edition. I had met Lorna casually through mutual friends and heard she had been an acclaimed auctioneer at Sotheby's. Their first female auctioneer, in fact. I asked one if he thought I might approach her to join us. We met, she did and after telling us all the things we were doing wrong or somewhat sloppily, she signed on. I remember her saying in that first meeting: "It's an entertainment, Tom, where you relieve people of their money for something they may not even know they want," she said. "But it is also an art and a good auctioneer is essential. I'm one of the best."

And indeed she was. That year, with Lorna's direction, BC/EFA's first real auction raised what we thought was an astonishing $12,000 of the day's $52,000 grand total and Broadway Cares made a best friend, eccentric champion and bemused observer, soon becoming a donor and community favorite and, without doubt, as popular with Flea Market regulars as anyone sitting at the Celebrity Table,

From that first $12,000, last year the Grand Auction raised $295,000 of the day's $765,655 total. Over the last 26 years at 26 Grand Auctions and 15 Broadway Bears auctions, Lorna teased, charmed, cajoled, embarrassed and gently squeezed more than $6.3 million from thousands of donors, Broadway theatre lovers and fans and those who just happen to wander into Shubert Alley on the last Sunday in September. Other charities and agencies began to call, asking if they could "borrow" her, as the success of our auctions became known. Any event we did that included a podium and a paddle became Lorna' stage, most recently at the SPOTCo book launch where she raised $23,000 from the sale of 10 oversized signed posters (and a pair of HAMILTON tickets.)

Lorna Kelly will always be synonymous with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Her skill, bemused affection, uncanny relationship to bidders - "I'll wait. Don't look at him. Look at me. Why don't you make it an even $5,000? SOLD!!" - and willingness to suspend her disbelief at some of what was presented to her for auction - "Tom, what's a walk-on??" "Tom, why would anyone bid on a costumed bear!?!" - became an integral part of our success, setting a BC/EFA auction apart from all others.

Most importantly, Lorna became family and whether behind the podium with her special gavel that fit without a handle into the palm of her hand or sitting on the aisle at GYPSY, BONNETS and BACKWARDS, she has enhanced us in way that only she could.

Lorna will be greatly missed. The stories are legion. She came to love us and the community, as we love her. Lorna Kelly will always be a part of our story. She was a rare, wonderful and slightly loony friend.

"Chicka-cha, chicka-cha, chicka-cha. Chick! Sold to you, sir! And aren't you glad!"

Kelly's assistant, Sara Beth Allen, also posted the sad news on Facebook, sharing: "Lorna Kelly remains the definition of creativity, class, and work ethic. She had a diverse range of passions from raising money for important causes, to spirituality, to travel, art, politics, public speaking, and most importantly she had a tremendous gift for writing. If you open her memoirs you are awakened to her powerful skill set." Read the post in full HERE

Below, watch a video montage of Kelly's work as a charity auctioneer:

Photo Credit: Genevieve Rafter-Keddy

Photo Credit: Monica Simoes