Thank you, Ken

Ken got me my first paid job in theatre back in 1989 or so when I was a poor punk kid living out of my beat up yellow mustang on The Ave. [ Now, these days, I sit in his old role as Warehouse Manager at TPN. I was hired just in March and heard through Todd Phinney (another Issaquah veteran, AND another former Warehouse Manager for TPN no less) about Ken. I’m crushed.]

Ken believed, without so much as a prompt, that I could do that first job, that I could make it. He could sum people up like that.

It was just a short stint, firing guns backstage and pulling ropes at the Village for a few weeks, but it was magic. It was the perfect show to start my career, and the cast & crew were such a giving friendly bunch. So much so that they even helped me wow my girlfriend: during the end of curtain call one late May day, they stopped and gave her a warm and personal shout: HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMY. She was floored by how (stupidly) romantic I was, and how nice the ‘Village people’ were.

Sidebar: I recall some of us played the hide-n-seek in the dark game dubbed
“murder” in the old Village after shows – [ I remember Terrance’s tall frame vaulting over the seats in the pitch black, and Melissa’s nervous laughter and Jason’s wicked grin in the dark, and Scott ‘Village Idiot’ Brown’s funny voices ] and overall just shrieks of fun from all of us. Village was an adult playground, one as innocent as can be. I have no doubt Ken instigated those games.

Ken I think was the PM, and I also recall Alex designing lights. I had also seen Ken on rare occasion at parties south of Issaquah, those recurring Landback-drama-kid extravaganza’s that occurred nearly every Halloween and New Years.

But most of all, I came away from that show (and the next one that Ken lined me up for) owing Ken my life. Ken Tilden extended his hand when I was lowest and everyone else had kicked me down. I went from expelled punk kid living his nights at the Exit, sleeping days wherever was safe, starving each night - to someone with skills, with a job, and with contacts. With confidence.

Those contacts and that job lined me up for my entire career to this day: I went from stagehand to Stage Manager to Designer to Director. 5 years after that first job at the Village, I was Artistic Director of a community theatre and a year after that I started my own theatre education/design company. The following year I used those contacts as references for getting a job with a theatre event and supply house. 2 years more saw me put myself through college a bit late, getting my BFA from Cornish. I’ve worked in corporate events and occasional theatre gigs now for 16 years. Even got a job offer over in NYC that I took up for a couple years. I married that girl Amy and we’ve been together now 18 years, and she’s a) a wonderful mother, and my best friend; and b) just as much a sucker for my romantic side; and c) just as grateful to Ken for what he’s given us as I am. I’m raising a family and enjoying my career: the odd kismet that has brought me to the TPN family – TPN that’s seen Cornish Alum and Village alum both. I made it, thanks to him.

Thanks Ken. Thank you so very much for believing kids could do anything. Thanks for having faith in humanity – a curse and gift that we understood well.

I owe you a debt that I never ever could have repaid, even if I’d had all the time in the world. I’m glad you managed to live 2 lifetimes worth of living in your short time with us.

You were priceless.

Phoenix ‘Tom’ Smith

Gatherings

Just wanted to give an update on the gatherings I know of.

Sat. 26 at the Keg, in Factoria, beginning around 7 folks are getting together informally to connect and remember Ken.

Mon. Jan. 28 @ 11am memorial service for Ken at Village Theatre - 303 Front St. N. Issaquah, WA

Following the service there will be a reception at Jak's Grill from 12:30 to 2:30. That is located walking distance from the theatre - 14 Front St N, Issaquah

All are welcome to one or all of these gatherings.

Dream Maker

Ken was my dream maker.

Yes, I'm a Celine junkie, and Ken fulfilled my dream on my 70th birthday.

His spirit will always live in my heart. He was so kind and helpful to so many, and accomplished so much in his short time on this earth. He did it with such grace.

This old bag was probably his oldest fan.

Here's to you dear Ken, I celebrate your gentle kind life. I'll miss the sunshine of your smile.

I'll miss you.

Marlene Fiorito

To Ken's Family & Friends

I want to remember Ken for being such a caring, loving & wonderful friend to my daughter Lisa Fiorito, for all those years from the beginning @ Village Theater to Las Vegas & all points along the way. She will miss you terribly as we all will, but you will never be far from our hearts & minds. We loved hearing about all your adventures & jobs through your short life. WOW! PEACE BE WITH YOU!

Building A People Company

Ken ran, well he really built our first warehouse, when our biggest client was the festivals from a storage standpoint. We had one work box/tooler that everyone shared. One of Ken’s most important jobs was Patio Parties, his crew of one or two, would go and get chips and beer for our weekly Patio Party on the Fremont cut.
He and his crew had only one complaint: Clean up your own mess! And he got on folks when they didn’t. When the warehouse was next door to the office, If you just dropped something off at the warehouse and didn’t put it away, sometimes you might find that Stool or Podium ON YOUR DESK!!!!! I consider Ken someone who helped make TPN what it is today, a people company.

-John Vadino

Location change and and a call for pictures

Hello,

I hope you are all starting to come out of the fog. We have a location change for the memorial service. It is still at 11am on the 28th, but will be at Village Theatre's Francis J. Gaudette theatre (new space) at 303 Front St. N, Issaquah, WA 98027

And Ken's family is working on a slide show and would love for you to send them any pictures you have to jkwelsh1@comcast.net by end of tomorrow (Wednesday).

thank you,

Heather

Celebrating Ken Tilden

“Most of us are frightened of dying because we don't know what it means to live. We don't know how to live, therefore we don't know how to die. As long as we are frightened of life we shall be frightened of death. The man who is not frightened of life is not frightened of being completely insecure for he understands that inwardly, psychologically, there is no security. When there is no security there is an endless movement and then life and death are the same. The man who lives without conflict, who lives with beauty and love, is not frightened of death because to love is to die.”
--Jiddu Krishnamurti, Freedom From the Known

Ken, you understood there is no security. You lived life at the edge. You experienced the pain and suffering of life at your deepest inner core, but you also lived with beauty and love. You let me open my heart to you, let me be more myself than ever. You accepted me and loved me exactly as I am. Never any strings. Thank you for almost twenty years of profound friendship and unconditional love. I feel you all around me, the deepest part of who you are that can never die. I miss you.

Love forever,

Kathleen