Edward Kelly was a federal auditor until he became a volunteer firefighter in 1965 and knew that firefighting was his calling. He joined the Fairfax Fire Department full-time in 1974 and continued through the ranks as the department transitioned to Ross Valley Fire Department. He retired as Captain in 2003 after a 29-year career. He was treasurer of the IAFF Local 1775, where he was known as the "Finance Guy," and served his community as the Fairfax Town treasurer and finance director for over 20 years. He died from job-related cancer in 2007.