Obituary of Patrick John Kinney

Patrick J. Kinney passed away on Saturday, October 6th surrounded by family. All will fondly remember Pat's love for his family, sense of humor, generous heart, and brilliance. Pat was born in 1935 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He sent himself to school with money earned working in the local newspaper print shop, building rail lines, and at a meat packing plant. Pat earned a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in 1957 and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Iowa State University in 1963. While working in California on the rocket program, he became interested in oceanography and completed a post doc at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. He then joined the faculty and earned tenure at the University of Alaska where he had many exciting adventures in oceanographic Arctic research. While on leave at UC Santa Cruz, he fell in love with Santa Cruz and decided to stay. In 1972, he and Phillip Carpenter founded Kinnetic Laboratories, Inc. (KLI), an environmental scientific consulting firm that has provided oceanographic, water and sediment quality, geophysical and marine biology services for 46 years and is still going strong. KLI was Pat's profession and his passion. Pat delighted in finding innovative solutions to the most challenging technical problems. Indeed, Pat never retired from the work he loved so much and he took great pride in his KLI family. Even during Pat's final days, he was concerned about his employees and clients many of whom he thought of as his extended family and had known for decades. While he pursued excellence in his profession, he never forgot to enjoy life (preferably with a warm Pepsi nearby), whether it be an impromptu get together with 30 family and friends or a pickup basketball game played on courts from Santa Cruz to Compton. He enjoyed playing basketball late into his 70's and was well known as the old guy playing in Docker pants with the lethal shot from either hand. Pat loved his large family with all his heart. He met the love of his life, Mary Lee Seib, in Iowa at a church dance. They married and had six children of which they were immensely proud. In his own immutable way, Pat instilled in each of his children many of the same ethics and values that served him so well in life. With 12 grandchildren now, Pat's legacy continues. Pat's family is proud of him and glad that he is finally at peace with our mother. Pat is survived by his children: Shawn Kinney (Heather), Kevin Kinney (Michelle), Kerry Kinney (Michael Thompson), Shannon Gzsanka (Gene), Meghan Kinney (Spencer Johnson), Breandan Kinney and his 12 grandchildren (Hannah, Conner, Kyle, Haley, Nathan, Kaitlin, Maya, Ryan, Liam, Hayden, Owen, and Ava). He is also survived by his sisters, Elizabeth Shelquist and Ellen Misterek and his brother and sister in-laws, Robert Shelquist and Phil and Margaret Carpenter. He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Lee (Seib) Kinney and parents John Kinney and Lulu (Conway) Kinney. Friends and family are invited to a visitation on Sunday, October 14th (5 to 7 pm) at Oakwood Memorial Chapel. Funeral mass will be held Monday, October 15th at 10 am at Holy Cross Church (126 High Street) in Santa Cruz with graveside service to follow at Oakwood Memorial Park, (3301 Paul Sweet Road). All are invited to a reception celebrating Pat's life at Seymour Marine Discovery Center in Santa Cruz (100 McAllister Way). In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be mailed to Hope Services of Santa Cruz: Hope Services Resource Development Department 30 Las Colinas Lane San Jose, CA 95119