Cesi Kellinger

Cesi Kellinger, who passed away Friday morning, October 10, 2014, was born on April 5, 1922 in Sansepolcro, Italy. She attended the Regina Elena School, an academy for young women. She went on to study at the University of Florence where she received her doctorate in German language and literature.

She was a woman with many passions. Kellinger’s knowledge and love of books led her to become a bookseller in the 1970’s, specializing in books about women artists. In 2004, she donated more than 500 books to the National Museum of Women in the Arts. In 2011, she donated 200 dance items to the Library of Congress. The Library has designated this material as the Cesi Kellinger Collection at the Library of Congress.

Cesi Kellinger embodied many interests: books, languages, politics, food, Brian, The New York Times, Cosmo, Tuscany, Legal Services Book Sale, Wilson College, Orchesis, The Josef Kellinger Prize for Excellence in German, nature, and the sunroom.

One afternoon in 1944, high in the standing room section of the opera, she met Josef Kellinger, a young soldier stationed near Florence with the US Army. They were married in Austria in 1947. Her devotion to Joe continued beyond his death in 2001. The importance of relationships and family was paramount in her life.

She continues to live in the hearts of her daughters Ellie and Paula, her grandson Brian, and her many friends.

There will be a memorial service to celebrate the life of Cesi Kellinger on Thursday, October 16, 2014 at 3:00 PM in the Alumnae Chapel, Thomson Hall, Wilson College.

The family requests the omission of flowers and suggests that memorial contributions in her memory be made to Franklin County Legal Services, 14 North Main Street, Suite 401, Chambersburg, PA 17201.