Kenneth M. Maddalena

Anyone lucky enough to have Ken as a friend knows how much he loved a challenge and a good fight. Growing up with his two older brothers, Bob and Steve, Ken didn’t know all those fist fights were preparing him for the toughest fight of his life, and the only fight he ever lost.

Ken passed away at home on Tuesday, June 25,2024 surrounded by his wife Liz, who has loved him since tenth grade and his beautiful daughters, Nicole and Lauren. Ken had a wonderful group of friends who took care of all the little details, allowing Ken’s girls to focus on him. Special thanks to Michelle and Joe Pepe, Sue Fox, and Barb and Rob Farley. Also by his side were his beloved fur babies, Ted, Olive and Midnight who will miss their Dad terribly.

While Ken was a stubborn, hard headed Scotsman, he was one of the funniest people you would ever meet. He had his niece and nephew convinced he lived across the street with his pet dinosaur and just came over because the TV and snacks were better. He loved to playfully trash talk and drop one of his favorite lines on you, like “I’m talking about you, not to you”. Ken also loved to be on the receiving end of trash talk and valued the support of his friends who didn’t treat him like a cancer patient, but like the old friend they loved.

Kenny had the strongest work ethic, and he did let work be a priority in his life. His diagnosis, while devastating, gave Ken the re-set and focus on living. He developed a wanderlust for travel and did more in the last two years that ever before. He sky dived, went Rocky Mountain climbing, visited Arizona, Vermont, Florida, DC and Tennessee. He did yoga with goats, zip lined and danced at a Honky Tonk. Ken reached his dream of visiting Nazare, in Portugal and managed to surprise his beloved cousin Iain and Jane. Most of his travels were to the chagrin of his doctors.

Ken underwent two years of intense chemo, but never complained. His go to response to the constantly asked question “How are you feeling?” Was “I’m good”. We all knew better. Ken continued to exercise and work out throughout his treatment and loved his CrossFit community.

Ken’s motto became “Die with memories, not dreams”. His humor, strength and spirit will live on forever. He will be missed.

P.S. Tell your friends…