Goodbye Old Friend

I met Kenny in high school - not sure when, but it must have been around freshman year. We were close during that time, but drifted apart as we got older. I am fortunate that Kenny made the effort to find me on-line 7 or 8 years ago, then to reach out again to meet me and Rich Marshall (another high school friend) for lunch in Portsmouth NH. After 20 years, Kenny was still the same - funny, smart, honest, sincere, and my friend once again. I am so glad he made the effort to reconnect - and that I got the chance to hear what a difference he was making for others with his life. I was humbled to hear of what he had done with his life since high school – he talked of his life in a way that suggested he had done nothing out of the ordinary. We stayed in touch sporadically since then, by email and an occasional phone call. Kenny made the effort - once you were his friend, you were always his friend.

I have many memories of Kenny from our Acton Boxborough days - too many to name. Going to the Wards in Boxborough was always a treat - there were always people there, and a good time to be enjoyed. I grew up in a very Catholic family...once I could drive I started attending a later Sunday mass than the rest of my family. This service consisted of driving up to Kenny's house for breakfast - I was always welcomed, and enjoyed more fellowship at the Church of Ward than I ever would have at St. Elizabeth’s! Kenny was always around - as other friends moved in and out of our circle, we remained close. We enjoyed the usual suburban High School things - driving around drinking beers (times were different then), enjoying discovering great music (Little Feat, Grateful Dead, and Steely Dan stand out in my memory when I think of Ken). Skipping school on warm spring afternoons to play ultimate frisbee behind the South Acton fire station. Attending concerts at the Garden and Orpheum in Boston, the Worcester Centrum, Hartford Civic Center, and Lenox Music Inn. Sneaking out of school to take in lunch at the Village Deli. Cold michelobs parked on the cliffs overlooking route 2 - tuning out and having great conversations. More cold michelobs at Prospect Hill in Harvard. Many great laughs in school - Mr Beauregard (Bias Man) for social studies, and Mrs Hearn for Mystery and Detection and Fantasy – great reading. Ken was a great friend - I will never forget him and the good times we shared.

We graduated 30 years ago this summer. I don't have many photos that survive from that time, but I did find a few of Ken, from two hiking trips we took to Mt Washington, and the surrounding Presidentials (Jefferson, Adams, Clay, Madison). Kevin Mullin also found some shots from those trips, and sent me what he had – thanks Kev. The first trip was in the summer of '77 - these first set of pictures are from that trip:

Kenny, Scott, Joe - the ever present “Beloit College” shirt.

Scott, Kevin, Kenny

The second trip was after high school graduation - summer of '79:

Kenny and Brian heading up the Six Husbands Trail - Mt. Jefferson

Kenny makes the leap - Bob, Kevin, and Joe look on

Brian, Bob, Charlie, Kenny, and Kevin – top of the Six Husbands Trail – Mt. Jefferson

And one more thrown in for good measure – apologies for the juvenile hand gestures – we were…juveniles!

Joe, Scott, Kenny, Brian, Rich, and Kevin - Cape Cod – ’79?

I can’t imagine how hard this time must be for Yesenia, Eliza, and Robert, as well as Kenny’s siblings, Mother, and many, many close friends from all over the world. My thoughts are with you all as I remember the Kenny I was privileged to know. I am a better person for his friendship, and will miss him.

Joe