Diana Tyler, former co-owner of Kelloggs & Lawrence, dies at 76

Diana Tyler

Diana Piroska Jenney Tyler died Saturday, June 28, in her home in Katonah after a four-year battle with cancer.

She was co-owner with her husband, Bart Tyler, of Kelloggs & Lawrence, the beloved Katonah hardware store, for 24 years. She  was well known for her engaging manner and her volunteer service to the community, recalled those who knew her. 

She was born on Sept. 21, 1948, in Orinda, Calif., to Dr. Elliot Ross Jenney of London, U.K., and Katalin Maria Farkass of Pest, Hungary. Her life was defined by a commitment to family, service, resilience and a zest for adventure, her family said.

Her father was a physician with the World Health Organization, so from 5 months old until she was nearly 20, she traveled the globe. From Jakarta and Bangkok to São Paulo, Santiago, and Guatemala, she attended local schools, mastering six languages and embracing each new culture with curiosity and grace, family members noted. 

At 19, while living in Guatemala, she signed with the Ford Modeling Agency and quickly gained fame throughout Central America, even starring in a popular telenovela.

After her father’s retirement, the family settled in Honolulu, where she briefly attended the University of Hawaii before moving to New York City to further her modeling career.

In 1971, at the age of 22, she met and married Dean Gillette Van Nest, an advertising executive and widower, and became a devoted stepmother to Dean Jr. and Raymond. Together, they welcomed two more children, Ross and Kathleen, living in Manhattan and later in Bronxville. 

In 1989, the family relocated to Naples, Fla., where Van Nest became a professor at the University of Miami. Despite the joys of family life, Tyler faced profound loss: her stepson Raymond died from colon cancer in 1985, and her son, Ross, was killed in a car accident in 1991. After 22 years of marriage, the couple amicably divorced, and she returned to the New York area.

On June 15, 1995, she married Barton P. Tyler and settled in Katonah. Together, they purchased Kelloggs & Lawrence in the heart of the Katonah hamlet, where she thrived as a business owner, broadening the store to include outdoor fashion and gifting, making Kelloggs & Lawrence a shopping destination. She became a fixture in the community, earning national recognition with features on the store in the New York Times, Martha Stewart Living and Country Living. She cherished her daily work, her family said, and the connections she built with customers and neighbors alike. 

After nearly 25 years at Kelloggs & Lawrence, the Tylers sold the store in December 2021.

Having recently celebrated their 30-year wedding anniversary, the couple shared a love of adventure, traveling the country in their Airstream trailer.

‘Selfless service’

Tyler served as president of the PTA in Bronxville, led the Point O’Woods Association on Fire Island, and provided interior upholstery services and early videography work in the 1980s. In her free time, she was an avid sailor and windsurfer, always eager to try something new, according to family members. 

She volunteered with organizations such as Hospice where she was recognized as Volunteer of the Year in 1988; Bedford-Katonah Tsunami Relief;  and the Community Center of Northern Westchester in Katonah. She was also a co-founder of Bridges to Community, a nonprofit dedicated to community development in Latin America. 

“Diana was full of life, love and selfless service,” said Clare Murray, executive director of CCNW. “Instrumental in the Community Center’s earliest days, supporting our mission and work throughout the years and volunteering when retirement afforded her the time, Diana brought joy to all that she did. She touched the lives of so many people and made our community a better place for everyone.”

“It was a delight to know Diana, a privilege to work with her and we will all continue to be inspired by her,” Murray continued. “Diana was a cherished member of the CCNW family and will be in our hearts, always.”

Casey Carter, chair of the Katonah Chamber of Commerce, said, “Whenever you walked into Kelloggs & Lawrance, she greeted you with a big smile and a kind heart; that same smile and kind heart were given every time you ran into her on the street, in a local restaurant or when she came into your shop. Diana was a fixture of the community for over 25 years and she will be missed dearly.”

The Tylers “helped define the spirit of Katonah’s small business community,” Bedford Supervisor Ellen Calves said. “Their shop was more than a store — it was a place where neighbors felt known and welcomed. Diana’s grace, generosity, and unmistakable sense of style left a lasting impression on everyone who walked through the door — and all who knew her. Her warmth, compassion, and enduring community spirit will not be forgotten.”

She is survived by her husband, Bart Tyler, her daughter, Kathleen (PJ Pierce), and her stepson, Dean Van Nest. She is also survived by Bart Tyler’s children, Doug, Amelie and Ben Tyler, and six grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Aug. 9, at the Bedford Presbyterian Church, located at 44 Village Green, Bedford. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to Bridges to Community, at bridgestocommunity.org,  and the Community Center of Northern Westchester at communitycenternw.org. 

— Jeff Morris contributed to this story.