I don’t write obituaries. But I do, albeit infrequently, write tributes. This is one of those rare occasions when I believe not doing a tribute to Ken Pascoe would be an injustice so here goes.
I knew Ken initially through becoming a member of the Suffield Rotary. His official obituary reads:” [h]e was a 33-year member and 2-time president of the Suffield Rotary Club…” While true, this dramatically under-represents his contribution to that organization, since all members believe in service about self and a rotation system leads to many becoming president. But Ken’s contributions went so much further. For many years Ken was in charge of and could readily be seen at the Rotary Chicken Barbeque at Suffield on the Green. Ken would procure supplies, oversee staffing and could be observed lighting the grilling pits amongst the Sunday 4:30 a.m. crew. What could not be seen is that it was Ken who initiated the program, continuing to this day, of distributing free chicken barbeque dinners to well over one hundred seniors unable to attend the fair.
When in 2017, a local U.S. Navy sailor tragically died in an accident, Ken immediately jumped into action, raising funds to make sure that he could be honored appropriately when his remains were returned to his hometown. Ken was the one that procured Suffield Rotary’s involvement in the annual Suf- field Night Out, where working with other local groups, the Rotary would purchase and cook hamburgers and hot dogs for free distribution to all in attendance at the event honoring our first responders. When Rotary “Rang the Bell” for the SCA I always was pleased to ring with Ken, because whomever came up, knowing what Ken did for the town, seemed always to reach for a second bill to put into the kettle.
An accountant by trade, numerous organizations in town benefited from his expertise, often either gratis or far below “market rates”. This included the newspaper you are now reading, the Suffield Foundation for Excellent Schools and the Suffield Volunteer Ambulance Association, where he also served as a director and treasurer for many years. When I told a former president of Suffield Community Aid that I was writing this tribute he not only confirmed that Ken did the accounting for that organization, but at Christmastime he also regularly donated over 90 pies a year for distribution to the less fortunate. Ken was also elected to the Suffield Police Commission where he served for a decade (four as chairman).
Some people are generous with their time and should be applauded. Some people are generous financially and they too should be praised. But only the rare few are generous with both their time and their money, and those special individuals deserve a tribute. Here’s to you Ken Pascoe.