Andrew Leo Kish "Andy"

Andy was born in Trenton, NJ on June 4, 1943, and spent his childhood living on New Cedar Lane near the Chambersburg area. He graduated from Hamilton High School West and served in the Air Force where he earned his Master Electrician credentials. Upon returning from service, he married his high-school sweetheart, Eileen Hirschmann on May 21, 1966. He savored the risks of youth as a professional drag strip racer, driving cars he built under the moniker “L.A.Kish” racing from Canada to Indianapolis to Englishtown, New Jersey. Even when he stopped racing, cars remained his passion.

He devoted his career to auto body repair and classic car restoration. He established his own business, Andy’s Auto Body, in his hometown. There he employed and mentored several community college students in auto repair, welding, and painting. He also served the community through his involvement with the Bordentown NJ Elks Chapter 2085.

Craftsman Andy loved building and repairing everything. Besides cars, he constructed sheds and hundreds of wood structures for himself, family, and friends. He also loved to create landscaped flower gardens to mimic those in Walt Disney World. Using a drill to dig and plant flowers brought his own style to nature’s art. He also built a garden stream, waterfall, and fishpond for 300 Japanese koi at his home on Arena Drive in Hamilton, New Jersey where he resided for over 40 years.

Andy enjoyed talking cars with anyone, golfing, racquetball, toy truck collecting, watching the Florida rocket launches with his wife through a telescope from home, walking around the Florida theme parks with his family to find Donald Duck and Dole Whip, and celebrating life’s special occasions with those he loved.

He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Eileen Kish, his daughter, Michele Richter, and her husband Brian Richter, his granddaughter, Jessica Richter, his sister, Joan Hopkins and her husband, Tom Hopkins, their three children and several grand nieces and nephews. He will be greatly missed by family and friends, along with the lives he touched through his passions.

A private celebration of Andy’s life will be held by the family in his much-loved backyard garden called Andyland.