EDWARD KING HEMPEL , JR.

Edward “King” Hempel, Jr., 83, of Nevada City, California, died on March 30, 2016 surrounded by family at home. King was born on August 15, 1932, in Swampscott, Massachusetts, to Edward and Lotta Alley Hempel. King graduated from Bates College and then earned his M.A. from the University of Chicago. In his early career, he was an ordained Unitarian minister and later a United Church of Christ (Congregational) minister, serving churches in Dexter, Maine; Stamford, Connecticut; and Providence, Rhode Island. It was in the Stamford church that King served as minister to baseball legend Jackie Robinson, and became a close friend of the Robinson family. Throughout his life, King stood steadfastly for racial equality and justice for all. In 1970, King joined CBS in New York City, where he started the first corporate wide training programs. In that era, CBS had 33,000 employees working in various companies including Steinway Pianos and the New York Yankees. In more recent years, King became an advocate for protecting the environment. With his wife Linda, he created programs and projects that included offering reusable cloth bags on cereal boxes, to starting the first organic soil testing service, distributing 100,000,000 tree seeds as a movie tie-in, and creating the Garden Magic Kids for inspiring school gardens. King was dedicated to preserving the earth for future generations. In addition to his wife Linda, King is survived by his daughters Marcia (Kelly Twomey) of Dennisport, MA; Karen Goldsmith (Charlie Wrenn) of Columbia TN; Lyn (Steve) Russi of Providence, R.I.; Kelly Johnston of San Diego, CA; Kathy (Brett) Dotson of Nevada City, CA; his sons David (Stephanie) of Berlin, WI; Ken of Nevada City, CA; eleven grandchildren: Heather Audette, Evan Goldsmith, Christopher Mulligan, Warrant Officer 2 William Lavandier, Charles Lavandier, Emily Hempel, Allison Hempel, Tim Hempel, Ryan Johnston, Roxy Dotson, and Scarlet Dotson, two great granddaughters: Savannah Audette and Sophie Lavandier; and his first wife Peggy Turner. A private celebration of King’s life was held April 3, 2016, at the home of Kathy and Brett Dotson.

EDWARD KING HEMPEL , JR.

August 15, 1932 - March 30, 2016