Times Herald-Record
Middletown, NY
26 Feb 2017



February 2, 1933 - February 25, 2017
Middletown, NY - Formerly of Goshen, NY

Kenneth Charles Lake, "Hake" has passed away peacefully at home with his family on Saturday, February 25, 2017. He was 84 years old.

Born in Manhattan, at the age of two Ken's family traveled by ship through a hurricane to the island of Nevis, in the French West Indies. As the great depression had begun, his father felt that he could best provide for his family by returning to his homeland where generations of the Lake family had prospered. The Lake family grew to be six boys and one girl, although one younger brother, Walter died at an early age. There they lived on an estate named Springhill (a name that Ken would not let be forgotten), where they raised crops such as sugar cane and cotton, as well as a variety of animals needed for subsistence. Traveling by horse drawn cart to a dock, they sold crops and bartered with the merchant ships that came to the island.

Climbing the mountains with his brother Roger and their dogs, to hunt the monkeys that would otherwise decimate their crops; riding horses down a beach to school, salting meat to preserve it in barrels placed underground, and not having worn a pair of shoes until he returned to NYC at the age of 13, are but a few of the "West Indies" stories Ken shared with family and friends.

Back in the states, playing stickball in the streets led to baseball. Having graduated high school, Ken tried out and became a lefty pitcher for a NY Yankees farm team. Unfortunately, this was short lived as Ken was drafted into the Navy during the Korean War. Aboard the aircraft carrier USS Antietam, Ken visited many ports of call in South America and Europe.

As a salesman in the printing trade he met Suzy, who would become his wife. Years later, Ken started a printing business which he named Springhill Press. For over 30 years, with the help of dedicated, faithful employees which were like family his printing company was known for its true craftsmanship and its fair and honest owner. Deservedly, Springhill Press received numerous international printing quality awards!

Ken loved fine dining, travel, boating and golfing (although golf wasn't too kind to him). He was host for many great 4th of July parties at his beautiful old home atop a hill in Goshen.

Always able to forgive and look forward, not one to complain, he would often say "we have so much to be thankful for!"

Ken's last several years were spent living at the home of his son, Kenneth, his wife, Barbara and his three grandchildren in Middletown, NY.

Ken is predeceased by his father, Frank Lake and mother, Rose Gesualde Lake; brother, Walter; wife, Susan Coleman Lake; brother-in-law, Cornelius Coffey and sister-in-law, Lucretia Lake.

He is survived by his son, Kenneth Lake and his wife, Barbara; grandchildren: Ryan Lake and fiancee, Julia Piotrowski of Queens, NY, Hannah Lake and Derek Lake of Middletown, NY; brothers: Frank Lake and his wife, Lorna of White Plains, NY, Roger Lake of Bridgewater, NJ, William Lake and his wife, Carol of Chester, NY, Robert Lake and his wife, Terry of Carmel, NY and one sister, Margaret Lake of NY, NY; sister-in-law, Patricia Coffey of Southern Pines, NC; cousin, Elaine Crepit of High Falls, NY and many nieces and nephews.

A special thank you goes to Dori McBride and Susan McSpirit for always keeping Pop "Hake" in your lives, as well, his two best and faithful friends who always kept in touch through the years, Vince Voulo II from Ocala, FL and John Bowe of Knoxville, TN.

A Celebration of Life will be held from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 6 with a service to follow at the Donovan Funeral Home, Inc., 82 South Church Street, Goshen. Military Honors and burial of cremains will follow at the Orange County Veterans Cemetery, 111 Craigville Road, Goshen, NY.

At the family's request, memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 384 Crystal Run Road, Middletown, NY 10941.

Arrangements under the care of the Donovan Funeral Home, Inc., Goshen, NY; to leave the family a condolence visit www.donovanfunerals.com