Kenneth TALBOT

TALBOT
Kenneth Shutts, passed away peacefully early Sunday morning at his home in Ridgewood, NJ.
Born in Ridgewood and a life-long resident of the village, Mr. Talbot was the son of Florence S. Talbot and Robert C. Talbot. Mr. Talbot graduated from Ridgewood High School in 1948 and earned a BS in Business Administration from the University of Rhode Island in 1952.
As a Lieutenant in the Navy, Mr. Talbot served on the aircraft carrier USS Randolph, sister ship to the Intrepid. Later, as a member of Operation Deep Freeze, Admiral Richard E. Byrd's last trip to Antarctica during1955-56, he served on the icebreaker USS Edisto and was stationed at Antarctica's McMurdo Base. While there, he discovered Captain Scott's final camp and was among Emperor penguins of which he said, "As we were carting supplies inland to set up the base camp, the penguins would come in gangs. Later on, people just starting giving me penguins, which is okay because I love them." He was photographed for National Geographic while exploring Antarctica's ice caves and crevasses.
Mr. Talbot worked in sales for Indiana General Corp. before creating his own management consultant agency in international electronics, KST International, Inc. In that capacity he traveled around the world half a dozen times and visited many countries including Italy, France, Germany, Yugoslavia, Japan, Thailand, Brazil, Argentina, India and more. He traveled twice to China during the 1970s when few Americans were able to visit the estranged country.
An avid private pilot who learned to fly at age 15, Mr. Talbot said his first exposure to planes began when he went on a Boy Scout trip. "A Piper J3 landed within 20 feet of me. The pilot asked if anyone wanted a ride and, you bet, I went!" Early flights took place from a grass runway right in Ridgewood, NJ. He later received his seaplane rating, mowing lawns to earn the money. Mr. Talbot delighted in knowing that a Piper Tri-Pacer he once owned during the 1960s is still in operation today.
He was passionate about cars and boats as well as planes, and enjoyed working on almost anything with a motor. As a teenager he and his best friend once rode their mopeds from Ridgewood to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, "on a lark."
He was a member of the Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, NJ, and the Chatham Beach and Tennis Club and Stage Harbor Yacht Club in Chatham, Massachusetts where he enjoyed many summers.
Mr. Talbot is predeceased by his wife Barbara H. Talbot and his brother Robert N. Talbot and is survived by his daughter Claire Talbot Eddins of Virginia, her husband David P. Eddins, and their son Wyatt P. Morin; and son John M. Talbot of Mamaroneck, NY, his wife Johanna Farrand, and their son Paul A. Talbot.
Donations may be made to the Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, NJ.
A graveside service will be held at 11 AM at Valleau Cemtery, Ridgewood on Friday, December 27. Please send tributes and condolences to vanemburgh.com.