Obituary of Kenneth R. Remine

Ken was born July 18, 1938, in Elizabeth, New Jersey, to mother, Mabel Walker Remine, and Gilbert R. Remine (both deceased). He died on March 30, 2024, at Alpine Way Continuing Care Community in Shelton, Washington. He was raised in New Jersey and attended Westfield Senior High School (1956) and then Rutgers University, where he earned a B.A. in Economics (1960) and a Master of Business Administration (1973). In June 1964, he married his sweetheart, Patricia, and they lived in Westfield, New Jersey, where they had their first two children. They moved to Palos Verdes near Los Angeles, California, in 1971 and had their third child the following year. In 1976, the family moved to Mercer Island, Washington, where they lived until Ken and Pat retired.

Ken worked from 1960 to 2004 as an insurance agent and broker in Manhattan, New York; Los Angeles, California, and then Bellevue, Washington. In his early career, he worked for AFA Protective Systems, Inc. (a fire protection systems company) in Manhattan, where he was involved in office and personnel management, including advocating for diversity in hiring. He worked for Allendale Mutual Insurance Company from 1970 to 1980 when he went on to co-found and co-own an independent insurance agency in Kirkland, Washington.

Ken’s passions in early adulthood revolved around sailing and being on the water, whether enjoying a moonlit sail across Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, with Pat; cramming the young family into a Cal 25 sailboat for the six-hour sail from LA to Catalina Island in California; or racing Snipes on Lake Washington in Seattle.

In 1980, the Remines purchased property on Harstine Island in the south Puget Sound, which has become a treasured family haven. The family camped there during summers for the first 15 years before building a house, which became Ken’s and Pat’s retirement home. Ken valued the community of friends there almost as much as he loved the clams, oysters, and crabs that he nurtured, harvested, and cooked there.

Later in life, Ken loved traveling (mostly to enjoy delicious foods from around the world) and adventured with Pat to England, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Greece, Trinidad and Tobago and other parts of the Caribbean and around the US. But his favorite place of all was the Inn at Manzanillo Bay in Troncones, Mexico, where he and Pat spent several wonderful vacations.

Ken was an early adopter of all types of technology and always had the latest laptop, tablet, and cooking gadgets on hand. Ken loved researching and then carefully crafting delicious meals to share with family and friends (which were often served quite a bit later than promised!) He especially loved his grills and smokers and spent many summer evenings cooking outside on the deck.

Ken is survived by his dear wife of nearly 60 years, Patricia R. Remine; sister-in-law, Hedwig (Ackermann) Remine; sons, Peter R. Remine and Matthew W. Remine; and daughter, Kathryn R. Remine, and her husband, Jonathan Dent. He was preceded in death by his birth mother, Mabel Walker Remine; his father, Gilbert R. Remine; step-mother, Hazel Ward Remine; and beloved brother, Donald G. Remine.

Most of all, Ken found great happiness in thinking about logistics and planning for the future to ensure that his wife and children could live their best lives. “We treasure his memory and follow in his footsteps. Thanks, Dad!!”

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