SEWARD, JOHN KENNETH “KEN”
July 17, 2019
A true internationalist, Ken Seward lived in five countries outside the U.S. over his lifetime. Fluent in Spanish and Italian, he spoke enough French to order a good meal (with wine) in Paris or Brussels. He was born on March 2, 1931 in New York City, the son of Victor and Ann Seward. He grew up in the Metropolitan area with the exception of three years spent in Havana, Cuba. He received a B.S. in Economics from Villanova University, and served three years as an officer in the U.S. Navy, including two tours in the Mediterranean with the Sixth Fleet. He first came to Arizona as a student at the Thunderbird School of Global Management, graduating in 1957. He would later serve on the Board of Trustees of the school for over thirty years. He joined the insurance broker Johnson & Higgins in New York, and moved to Maracaibo, Venezuela in 1960. There he met and in 1962, married Jeanette Colangelo, a schoolteacher from Batavia, N.Y. They were married for 45 years until her death in 2007. After working in Caracas, Venezuela, he managed the J&H Companies in Columbia (Bogota) and Italy (Milan). After twenty years abroad he returned to New York with responsibility for all overseas offices. He became a Partner in the firm and was in charge of all international operations. He was elected president of UNISON and maintained an office in Brussels. He retired in 1993 and moved to Paradise Valley, Arizona and Edwards, Colorado. In 2010, he married Sandra Evans. During his business career he was a member and officer in a number of business, cultural, and social organizations. He was an avid participant in amateur theatre productions and was a lover of opera. He was also a fan of bullfighting and was known to participate in a few (bloodless) events. He loved skiing and played golf for over 70 years. He was an amateur chef, known for his risottos and he mixed a mean margarita!
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jeanette, and their only child, Nicole. He is survived by his loving wife Sandra, who nursed him through his long illness, his sister Carol Seward, grandsons Luke and Ewen Farquhar, son-in-law Angus Farquhar, and his cousin, Frank Joseph.
There will be a Celebration of Life to be held at Paradise Valley Country Club in late September.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of the Valley (Ryan House) or to the Cancer Support Community.
Marsha and John French
Sandra, we were so very sorry to hear of Ken’s death. Words can’t express our support for you at this difficult time.
Jeannie
Sandra,
We are so sorry for your loss. We are sending hugs and love
Jeannie, and Todd Hillier
Geri Sunde
Bob Boyum
Glenn T Camp
Ken gave me the opportunity to go to Saudi Arabia and to run our operation with J&H there. He was always a gentleman and a team player. We often talked about bullfights we had seen in Spain.
Patty and I really enjoyed a short visit in Paradise Valley, golf and watching the coyotes from their lovely roof garden. Ken will be missed on so many levels by me.
Gianni Zunino
Ken was my mentor. He provided guidance during my employment with J&H Milano and he supported my transfer to the United States in 1981, in what has been for my family and me, a life-changing experience.
I was fortunate to be associated with him and am extremely saddened by this loss.
Ciao Ken, Amico mio!
Julia Poli
Just found out. I was a joung girl when I joined Johnson & Higgins in Milan and have very good memories of my job there and of Mr. Seward, the big boss. My sincere condolences to his family and friends.
Paolo Arata
I learned this right now. He hired me at J&H Italy (Rome office) in April 1977, trusted in me and made me confident in myself (while hiring me he told ”I hire you because you were honest in telling me that you have experience only in small clients, not in large clients (which are our core business)”. I’ll never forget him. My sincere condolences to his family.