Kelly Ann Hefner

Kelly was raised in West Hartford, CT where she attended Duffy Elementary School and Sedgwick Middle School before attending and graduating from The Loomis Chaffee School (Windsor, CT) in 1991. Kelly continued her education at Middlebury College (Middlebury, VT) specializing in Environmental Studies and graduated with a B.A. degree in 1995. Kelly was a 3-sport athlete at both Loomis and Middlebury, playing soccer, ice hockey and lacrosse. Kelly captained several of her teams that earned league and national titles. She earned individual All-American honors for her impenetrable defense in lacrosse.

Kelly was a woman of many talents and accomplishments. She had a formidable and diverse intellect as exemplified throughout her career as a successful and award-winning television producer, professor of documentary filmmaking at Columbia University, yoga instructor, certified somatic therapist, and countless other accomplishments. Kelly began her film and media career at the Discovery Channel, where she produced many documentary films. She quickly rose through the ranks to become Executive Producer and Senior Vice President at several large television networks including Women’s Entertainment Television, National Geographic and The Travel Channel. After many successful years in the television business, Kelly decided to make a brave, midlife career change, which took her to Bali where she studied for several months to become a yoga instructor and certified Somatic Therapist. She was hours away from achieving a master’s in psychology at the time of her death.

Kelly was highly gifted, even masterful, in the art of friendship. She was dedicated to helping others heal from trauma and its physical manifestations, even as she struggled with her own mental and physical pain following her diagnosis and treatment of Stage 4 breast cancer. Her mental and physical strength was astounding. While undergoing chemotherapy, she moved to Ojai, CA, enrolled in The Pacifica Graduate Institute, lovingly decorated a new home, and made legions of new friends and admirers, all while battling to beat the odds of her metastatic breast cancer diagnosis. Even in her darkest of times, Kelly always found the light; her positivity and grace, and the love she showered on everyone in her orbit, was an inspiration to the many people who loved her.

Kelly is survived by her parents, Robert and Jacquelyn (Lynch) Hefner, her siblings, Jennifer Hefner Carbone (her husband Stephen) and Brian Hefner (his partner Will Bard), nephews and niece, Quinn, Luca and Cecelia Carbone, many aunts, uncles and cousins from the Hefner, Brophy and Lynch families, and hundreds of close friends.

A private burial service was held at St. Ann’s Chapel and Cemetery in Cranston, R.I.

We thank the many families and friends who have sent flowers, cards and gifts for their sympathies and generosity. If others wish to pay tribute to Kelly, donations may be made online by clicking Kelly A Hefner Scholarship fund or by check to Loomis Chaffee School 4 Batchelder Road, Windsor, CT 06095 noting Kelly A Hefner in the memo section or www.givecampus.com/campaigns/21129/donations/new