Keith Eugene Kennedy, who grew the Carlsbad Village Faire from a humble sidewalk sale to become the largest one-day street fair of its kind in the nation, died on Friday, Jan. 2. He was 90.
He was born in Orleans, Nebraska, on July 8, 1924. At age 17, he enlisted in the Marines and served through the WWII island hopping campaigns of the Pacific Theater.
Returning from the war, he settled in Carlsbad and remained in the Marine Corps Reserve while beginning his career with AT&T.
He was activated for the Korean War in 1950, where he served from the Pusan perimeter, through the Inchon landings and on to the infamous Chosin Reservoir fight against the Chinese in 30-below zero weather. Keith was one of the "Frozen Chosen," the "Chosen Few." Keith returned to Carlsbad where he started his family and continued his AT&T career, rising to management before retiring in 1982 from both AT&T and the Marine Corps as a sergeant major.
Keith had served his country, and now he served his community. As a member of the Carlsbad Rotary Club for half a century, Keith was a key volunteer on almost every community service project. He was President of the club in 1982-1983, and Rotarian of the Year in 2000-2001. In 1991, Keith was chosen as Carlsbad Citizen of the Year. He was a Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce ambassador and was selected as the Chamber's prestigious Masters Meed award winner in 2001.
He was an Oceanside police reserve lieutenant, director of the Carlsbad Community Center, director of the Christmas Bureau, past president of the Village Business Association, and involved with the Boys & Girls Mentor Program. Keith lived a life of service to others.
Keith volunteered to help create a sidewalk sale in the Carlsbad Village in 1973. It grew to become the Carlsbad Village Street Faire, the largest one-day street faire in the nation.
This huge endeavor became a springboard to a second career as an event manager and the head of Kennedy and Associates.
He managed outdoor street events throughout San Diego County well into his 80s, but Carlsbad was his first love.
"Keith was the consummate community volunteer," said Toni Padron, the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce's Executive Vice President and COO. "The Chamber owes him a huge debt of gratitude for the tremendous work ethic that he had and for growing the Carlsbad Village Faire into the tradition that it has become."
Keith is survived by his devoted family: daughters, Kandy, married to Brian Roth, and Kim, married to Mike Kraatz, both of Vista; step-daughters, Michelle Langford and Shari Hooper; nine grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
He was born in Orleans, Nebraska, on July 8, 1924. At age 17, he enlisted in the Marines and served through the WWII island hopping campaigns of the Pacific Theater.
Returning from the war, he settled in Carlsbad and remained in the Marine Corps Reserve while beginning his career with AT&T.
He was activated for the Korean War in 1950, where he served from the Pusan perimeter, through the Inchon landings and on to the infamous Chosin Reservoir fight against the Chinese in 30-below zero weather. Keith was one of the "Frozen Chosen," the "Chosen Few." Keith returned to Carlsbad where he started his family and continued his AT&T career, rising to management before retiring in 1982 from both AT&T and the Marine Corps as a sergeant major.
Keith had served his country, and now he served his community. As a member of the Carlsbad Rotary Club for half a century, Keith was a key volunteer on almost every community service project. He was President of the club in 1982-1983, and Rotarian of the Year in 2000-2001. In 1991, Keith was chosen as Carlsbad Citizen of the Year. He was a Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce ambassador and was selected as the Chamber's prestigious Masters Meed award winner in 2001.
He was an Oceanside police reserve lieutenant, director of the Carlsbad Community Center, director of the Christmas Bureau, past president of the Village Business Association, and involved with the Boys & Girls Mentor Program. Keith lived a life of service to others.
Keith volunteered to help create a sidewalk sale in the Carlsbad Village in 1973. It grew to become the Carlsbad Village Street Faire, the largest one-day street faire in the nation.
This huge endeavor became a springboard to a second career as an event manager and the head of Kennedy and Associates.
He managed outdoor street events throughout San Diego County well into his 80s, but Carlsbad was his first love.
"Keith was the consummate community volunteer," said Toni Padron, the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce's Executive Vice President and COO. "The Chamber owes him a huge debt of gratitude for the tremendous work ethic that he had and for growing the Carlsbad Village Faire into the tradition that it has become."
Keith is survived by his devoted family: daughters, Kandy, married to Brian Roth, and Kim, married to Mike Kraatz, both of Vista; step-daughters, Michelle Langford and Shari Hooper; nine grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.