Kenneth Roy Hawthorne Sr.

Kenneth R. Hawthorne Sr., 71, of Elk Grove passed away peacefully at home on 12/8/2022 with his wife Terri by his side, surrounded by love, music and his 5 pianos.

In 1976 he married to the love of his life, Teresa (Gonzales), and together they had 2 children, Crystal and Kenny Jr., and 3 adored grandchildren, Sophia, Alessandro and Luciano.

Born at Saint Joseph’s Hospital in San Francisco on 12/19/1950 to Corinne(Lampman) and James Hawthorne, Ken was raised in the Sharp Park/Belmont areas with his older sister Donna, twin brother Don and lots of extended family. Grandson of Captain Harry Lampman, most of Ken’s childhood was spent on, or around his grandfather’s boats in the San Francisco Bay. Childhood summers were always spent in Russian River with family.

After graduating from Carlmont High School, Ken went to work, and later owned Kenworthy’s in Redwood City, parlaying his love of cars into a profession. Blessed with wonderful neighbors and friends in Belmont, Ken and Terri lived there until his retirement in 2000. Always wanting more space and a slower pace of life, they settled into country living in Valley Springs.

A lifelong learner and avid reader, retirement allowed Ken the time to go to Columbia State College, receiving his degree at the age of 52. He and Terri also travelled extensively throughout the United States, making their way to all 50 states. His love of history took them to every presidential library and historical site along the way. Ken loved to sail and spent a lot of time on his sailboat in the San Francisco Bay. He and Terri often found ways to sail on all of their trips, with the Florida Keys a favorite. When they were not travelling by his beloved Dodge truck or boat, Ken could be found at the piano tinkering with a new piece he was trying to master. Self-taught, he played with hundreds of pianist around the world, a continual challenge for him and source of joy.

Ken always welcomed friends, and his kids friends, like family. Be it a place to stay or a trip taken, there was always room. Wanting to be closer to family and friends, Ken and Terri moved to Elk Grove (2013) and really settled into life with grandkids. They continued to travel, spending months at a time in Cape Cod with family and even snuck in a few road trips throughout the year. As a Dad, there was no deeper love, no stronger support, and no greater pride than his. As Papa, Ken could be found swinging on a swings, sliding down slides, hitting golf balls, swimming, riding bikes, playing endless hours of games, and reading with Sophia, Alessandro and Luciano. He shared his love of the SF Giants, SF 49ers, PGA golf, and Tour de France(and California) with all of them – usually over a bowl of ice cream. He absolutely adored his grandchildren and loved being their Papa.

Ken’s legendary wit and subsequent tearful laughter will be deeply missed by us all. A truly remarkable and talented man, we were all so lucky to be able to love and be loved by him. May his piano keys never rest and we will see him in our dreams.

Ken leaves behind his wife of 46 years, Terri, their 2 children Crystal(Garin) and Kenny, and 3 grandchildren, Sophia, Alessandro and Luciano. As well as his sister, cousins, nieces and nephews, and many, many lifelong friendships.

A celebration of Ken’s life will take place in 2023, details will be sent out at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to your local music program or an act of kindness in Ken’s memory. Always playing music, and willing to give his last dollar to those in need, we can’t think of a better way to honor his extraordinary life.