RICHARD KUX

KUX RICHARD, died on December 7, 2009 after a short illness. Just one week prior he was celebrating his 95th birthday with his beloved Georgia and his daughter Nancy and son-in-law Roger. He was born in Cleveland in 1914 and attended Western Reserve University there. He served 4 years in the US Navy as a Chief Petty Officer. He moved to Detroit in 1946 to work for Perfection Automotive. There in 1946 he married Barbara Lichtig and they had two children: Nancy, a professional baker and executive organizer and Bill, an actor in NYC. In 1952 he founded Kux Manufacturing Company and directed its growth as it became the largest manufacturer of decals and identification markings for cars and trucks in the nation. It had subsidiaries in Dallas and Chicago. He also acquired the Continental Label Company of Detroit. He was board chairman until selling all the companies in 1979. He was a former board member of Temple Beth El and President of the Jewish Community Center in Detroit. He was a member of the Detroit Jewish Welfare Federation and is considered "father of the Women's Division of the Santa Barbara Jewish Federation". He also created the chapters of the ROMEOS (Retired Old Men Eating Out) providing lively luncheon conversation in both Detroit and Santa Barbara. After his first marriage ended he married in 1977 the English-born Georgia, a writer for the Palm Beach Post. He and Georgia loved to travel and they visited more than 45 countries around the world often using the French he had taught himself while stationed in Morocco or the German he had heard from his grandparents while growing up. A wonderful storyteller, an enthusiastic player of popular songs on his upright piano, an avid art collector and reader and a devoted golfer. Richard enjoyed life and seized all the opportunities that his talent and hard work had provided him. He leaves his sister Lucille Anderson of Cleveland; his wife Georgia of Montecito, California; and her daughters Gay and Pamela and their husbands John Zsori and Bill Bender; and his children Nancy and Bill and their spouses Roger Kelly and Frank Rizzo. Contributions in his memory can be made to the Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara, 524 Chapala, Santa Barbara, California 93101.