Kenneth Joseph Hemming's Obituary
In Loving Memory of Grandpa Ken
1938-2026
Kenneth Hemming peacefully passed away on Monday, March 23, in Belleair, FL. He was 87 years old.
Though Ken lived on the Florida Gulf Coast for the final 35 years of his life, he spent his first five decades as a New Yorker. Born June 4, 1938, in Flushing, Queens, to parents William Hemming and Ethel Kraus Hemming, he moved to Rochester at age 11. After graduating from Webster High School in 1957, Ken went on to attend Rochester Institute of Technology, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business and finance. As a student, he took on membership at Theta Gamma and Phi Sigma Kappa fraternities.
Ken’s career led him to the insurance industry: First as an agent for Liberty Mutual, and later as an account executive for Allstate.
In 1961, Ken married his loving wife Alexandra (Alex) Averson, who became the lifelong audience of his greatest joy: making others laugh. The couple moved to Belleair, FL in 1991. Along the way, Ken’s irreverent stories and desire to connect with those around him permeated his relationships. If you knew “Kenny,” you knew how to share a good story and a good laugh.
This same spirit fueled Ken’s commitment to serving his community. He acted as treasurer for the board of directors of his condo association for 11 years. In his retirement, he took on several roles in the healthcare arena. He volunteered as a Care Ride driver at Morton Plant Hospital—where he transported those in need of treatment to and from the hospital—and as a patient companion. Each fall, he dedicated his time to caring for adult survivors of cancer through Camp Living Springs of the Morton Plant Mease Foundation. And when temperatures dropped, he ensured those without a home had a place to stay as a volunteer with Cold Shelter Nights through his faith community, Church of Ascension.
Over the years, Ken developed a large portfolio of hobbies: cars, clocks, woodworking, jogging, and spending time exercising in the pool. But his priority always turned back toward people, listening to what others were going through and participating in it. He loved to be a part of their decisions, to share his wisdom, to help others feel heard, and to support them. More than anything, he loved the connections he made and the involvement he had in others’ lives.
Ken is survived by his wife, Alex; two children, Mark Hemming and Dana Koch (husband Kevin Koch); two grandchildren, Anthony and Nicholas Hemming; and three great grandchildren, Graham, Phoebe, and Finnley Hemming.
What’s your fondest memory of Kenneth?
What’s a lesson you learned from Kenneth?
Share a story where Kenneth's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Kenneth you’ll never forget.
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