We are constantly reminded of the need to “do the right thing,” to get involved, to not simply walk away when confronted with an opportunity to get involved.

Very simply, we would all like to do good. Too often we do little other than talk about it. Too often we fail miserably when it comes time to put those words into action.

Not Joseph Kelly Sr. It surprised no one who knew him that the Levittown man stopped as he traveled on the Vine Street Expressway early yesterday morning when he encountered a man in a wheelchair.

How many of us in the same situation would simply have driven right by, in a hurry to get home after another tough day at work. Not Kelly. He encountered the man, who he did not know, on his way home from his job transporting maritime workers from incoming ships to either their homes or sometimes the hospital.

Kelly was simply doing what he always did, making a kind gesture regardless of whether he knew the person involved.

It cost him his life.

Police say Kelly was eastbound on the Vine Expressway around 2 a.m. when he encountered Jeffrey Williams rolling his wheelchair westbound in the same lane. He stopped his truck, got out and offered to give Williams a hand.

Both Kelly and Williams were struck and killed by a truck that came up on the two of them, attempted to swerve around them, but fatally struck them both.

Kelly was to become a grandfather in September.

A lot of us talk about doing the right thing. Joseph Kelly Sr. is one of the few who tried to live it every day.

Yesterday it cost him his life on the Vine Street Expressway.

The world could use a lot more people like him.