Raymond Grenville Kitchener, 88, of Sebastian, passed away on Oct. 20, 2015.
He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Amelia; two daughters, Kathryn Burks, Karen Foley; son Kirby Kitchener; and two step-daughters Georgia Espirito Santo and Gisele Vargas.
Kitchener was a former Executive Director of the Marathon Chamber of Commerce from 1988 through 1998. In September of 1987, he and his wife Amelia purchased Simone Travel Agency from George Simone of Marathon and moved to Marathon from Homestead where he had been Executive Vice President of South Dade Aviation and where he had operational charge of Bahamas Caribbean Airlines and later, Air South which, for a time, served Marathon, Miami, and other Florida cities.
He was really an aviation pioneer. He was born in Vancouver, B.C. Canada on Dec. 5, 1926 where he grew up, got his early education, and served in the Canadian Army for two years during World War II. He had tried to join the R.C.A.F. but he was under age 18 and the Air Force would not take him.
Upon discharge from the Army, he decided to seek his fortune in America and found himself in Sacramento, Calif. It was here that he learned to fly but was unable to obtain a commercial license due to shade blindness.
His great interest in aviation led him to San Francisco where he joined United Air Lines as a Reservation Agent. In 1946, United loaned Kitchener and several other employees to Eastern Air Lines in Miami to help Eastern during their busy winter season. Eastern convinced him to join the company in Miami. He agreed, and spent 13 years with them. During that time, he graduated from several Eastern management training programs.
In 1960, he was handling Eastern Airlines sales in Connecticut, when he was approached by K.L.M. Royal Dutch Airlines to join them. With K.L.M. for 13 years, he held a number of posts including District Manager in Hartford and Detroit, Assistant Eastern Regional Manager in New York and U.S. Charter Sales Manager based in New York. Amsterdam, Holland became his second home.
During his 13 years with K.L.M., he was fortunate in being able to travel most of the world. He met and married his wife Amelia in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. However, he often remarked that his favorite place was the 15 years he and Amelia enjoyed in Marathon and the Florida Keys.
In 1989, Kitchener was approached by some of the Board members of Marathon Chamber of Commerce and asked him to become the Executive Director of the Marathon Chamber. He took the job and convinced the Board to move the Chamber from the middle of town to the Northern entrance, he oversaw the new Chamber building and Visitors Center. Members were encouraged to rent display space for their business which most tourist related members did. He also worked closely with the Seafood Festival and other events that the Chamber helped sponsor.
Kitchener serviced on the boards of the Salvation Army, Hospice of Key West, Middle Key Concert Assoc., and Kirk of the Keys. He was a past president of the Marathon Rotary Club and upon retirement was honored with a life membership in the Marathon club.
In lieu of flowers a donation to the VNA Hospice of Indian River County or your local Hospice organization would be appreciated.
Seawinds Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements.
