He bicycled in the Canadian Rockies and Austria, traveled to Italy to study painting and sketching and was one of the top local triathletes in his age group.

To many of his friends, longtime Alexander & Baldwin Inc. executive John Kelley was a renaissance man of sorts.

Kelley died Wednesday after a brief battle with brain cancer. He was 60.

"John was an enthusiastic ambassador of A&B and spoke of the company with a passion and deep understanding that impressed our shareholders," said Allen Doane, Alexander & Baldwin's chief executive officer.

Kelley, who joined Alexander & Baldwin's Matson Navigation Co. in 1979, had served as the company's vice president for investor relations since 1988. He held various planning, corporate development and community relations duties at A&B during the past several decades.

An avid supporter of the arts in Hawai'i, Kelley worked on efforts to restore the Hawaii Theatre and served on the boards of Hawaii Public Radio, Goodwill Industries, Aloha United Way and Hanahauoli School.

"John has been a quiet leader whose strength and presence have been appreciated by the board and the school," said Bob Peters, headmaster of Hanahauoli.

Kelley is survived by his wife, Kathy Merrill Kelley; son Rob; daughter Lauren; and stepdaughters Lisa Hemmeter, Kirsten Merrill and Kimmy Everett.

Services will be on May 30 at the Outrigger Canoe Club in Waikiki.

In lieu of flowers, the family asked that donations be made to Hospice Hawaii, the John B. Kelley Endowment Fund established by the Hawaii Bicycling League, the John B. Kelley Scholarship Fund established by Hanahauoli School or the Dana Farber Cancer Institute at Harvard University.

Reach Rick Daysog at rdaysog@honoluluadvertiser.com.