Kenneth F. Downing

Kenneth Fay Downing, 83, passed away on Father’s Day during a brief hospitalization where he had battled a persistent pneumonia complicating other ongoing respiratory issues. Ken passed away peacefully, just before midnight after a day spent watching the U.S. Open with his son.

Kenneth was the son of John W. Downing and Esther Wilkins Downing. He was born and raised in Newton MA. He was one of five children including his brothers John, Peter, Alan and his sister Carol Downing who had all previously passed. Starting in junior high school, athletics became a large part of Ken’s life. He was an excellent swimmer, baseball player and hockey player. In high school hockey became his main focus and he went on to become a Greater Boston Interscholastic All Star playing left wing for the Newton North Tigers. He graduated from Newton North in 1959 and after two successful years of playing college hockey at American International College in Springfield, Ken chose to enlist in the Army. After the Army Ken went to California where he briefly worked as an assistant to a “foley” artist. On a yearly basis he would brag about having worked in the room on the sound for “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown”.

After a brief time in California he moved back to Boston and met Mary Stanley a young physical therapist at the Lemuel Shattuck Hospital. Ken was married to Mary Stanley Downing in 1970 and they had one son Geoffrey Downing. They later divorced but continued to remain friends. Ken spent most of his adult life living in Scituate and Cohasset where he enjoyed sailing and golf. Once retired Ken enjoyed helping people and was always just a phone call away to support many people in the community. Ken is survived by his son Geoffrey who considered his father a great man and friend, his daughter in-law Janna Downing and his two grandsons Colton and Beckett Downing. He is also survived by and kept in touch with his many nephews and nieces throughout the years. Ken loved spending time with his family and attended every game he possibly could. He was so proud of his grandson’s many talents and supported them in everything they did. He would want all his friends and family to know that his love is eternal.