Kingdon "King" HELIE

HELIE, Kingdon "King"

was born in New Haven, CT, Feb. 25, 1938 and passed away peacefully at home Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016. In 1952, his family relocated from Sanford, ME to Homestead, FL. He graduated from South Dade High School in 1956, and served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1956 to 1959.

King received a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the University of Florida, 1964, and a Master of City Planning from Georgia Institute of Technology, 1968. Beginning in 1964, King was a Project Director for the Atlanta Regional Metropolitan Planning Commission, Senior Planner for Fulton County, GA, Planning Director for Orange County, FL, and joined EDG Group in Altamonte Springs. He was founder and owner of the King Helie Planning Group, Inc. in Winter Park, which was relocated to Pasco County in 1979.

King had over 50 years of experience as an urban planner, providing urban and regional planning, land use analysis, site planning, zoning and land use approvals, expert witness testimony in eminent domain proceedings, and parks planning throughout the state of Florida and other locations. Some of King's many local projects include Trinity Communities, River Crossing, Autumn Oaks, River Ridge, Timber Greens, Thousand Oaks, Wellington at Seven Hills, Key Vista, and Mitchell Ranch. He was a strong protector of the 5th Amendment to the Constitution of the U.S., believing that property owners may not be deprived of property by government without 'due process of law and just compensation'.

In addition to his professional land planning activities, King served on many Pasco County governmental advisory boards, including the Southwest Florida Water Management District Basin Board, and several non-profit organizations, including the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce as President, BayCare Behavioral Health-formerly the Harbor as Chairman, and Morton Plant North Bay Hospital as Chairman. He was the co-founder of the Hudson Seafest, a past Director of the Concourse Council, as well as a member of Leadership Tampa Bay, and the Seven Springs Rotary Club. He was also the owner and broker of Port of Hudson Real Estate Co., Inc.

King will always be remembered as a proud Florida Gator; "Once a Marine, always a Marine"; King Pithla in 1993 (the original King); and his signature cigars and Panama hats.

King is survived by his loving wife, Beverly; his brother, Leonard Helie; daughter, Patricia DuFresne (Paul); granddaughters, Andrea (Chris) and Michelle (Matt) and great-grandson, Tyler; son, Gunnar Helie (Jenny); grandson, Daniel Kingdon Helie; and granddaughter, Erica. In addition, his bonus family; Beverly's son, Sandy Pollack (Amanda) and their children, Jordan, Jake, Sydney, and Josie (Josh); great-granddaughter, Danica; and daughter, Tammy Strauss (David) and their children, Rebecca and Michael.

He was a longtime member of Temple Ahavat Shalom. King's Hebrew name is Ezra ben Abraham v'Sarah, may his memory be a blessing. A private graveside service will be conducted by Rabbi Gary Klein, Temple Ahavat Shalom, at Beit Olam Cemetery in Trinity Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Temple Ahavat Shalom, Gulfside Regional Hospice, or a good cause of your choice. Condolences may be shared, and online guestbook is available at davidcgross.com

David C. Gross Funeral Homes

830 N. Belcher Rd., Clearwater, FL

(727) 446-2222