Darwin Paul KelseyDarwin Paul Kelsey died Sunday, December 11, 2016. He was 76.Darwin was born on June 8, 1940 in Waverly, New York to Dortha and Paul Kelsey. He grew up on the family dairy farm in Danby, New York.Darwin founded the Countryside Conservancy in Cuyahoga Valley National Park in 1999 and served as its Executive Director. Here, he focused his life's work on his passion for sustainable agriculture and the importance of local food production. His Countryside Initiative program for the National Park Service is a one-of-a-kind farmland leasing model that has been studied and replicated many times across North America. For more information about Darwin's work, please visit www.cvcountryside.org.Prior to coming to Countryside, he developed and managed Lake Farmpark, an innovative science and cultural center devoted to agricultural and environmental education.Darwin is survived by his wife, Christine Van Huysse-Kelsey of Peninsula, Ohio; and by his children, Rachel (Kelsey) and Tony Lauriel of Wickliffe, Ohio, LaMont Kelsey of Evansville, Indiana, Amanda (Kelsey) and Doug Musick of Solon, Jordan and Jodi Kelsey of Denver, Colorado, Max Van Huysse of Los Angeles; along with seven grandchildren. His parents and two brothers, Dale Kelsey and Ronald Kelsey, preceded him in death.A wake will be held on Saturday, December 17 from noon to 2:30 p.m. at the Happy Days Visitor Center in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. A memorial service is planned at the visitor center at 2:30 p.m. The family requests that donations be made in Darwin's name either online at http://www.cvcountryside.org/give-donate.htm or by check mailed to the Countryside Conservancy, 2179 Everett Road, Peninsula, OH 44264.