Kenneth S. Recu

RECU, Kenneth Sawyer, 94. March 24, 1928 - December 17, 2022. As per Ken, he lived way past his "use by" date. Resident of Kittery Point, Maine since 1993, born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Sole descendant of Meyer E. and Anna (Axelrod) Recu. Educated in Chicago Public Schools, earning a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University at age 19. As a young man, Ken was a speed skater and avid golfer, one year attaining semifinalist status in the Chicago City Amateur Golf Championships. He was a member of Mensa, with an eidetic memory. Ken had perfect pitch, and could hum any recent or long ago music he had heard. Though he never played an instrument, Ken was a music junkie, listening to big band, jazz, classical and opera, especially Wagner, all day every day. He spent over a decade as a Supernumerary at Chicago's Lyric Opera, eventually as the Super Captain. Ken's love of bicycles and cars was legendary. He owned several sports cars, driving in many rallies over the years. As a member of Chicago's Outer Drive Hero Drivers Club, he could be found at their non-speed rally on Lake Shore Drive on New Year's Day. Ken served as President of the Chicago chapter of the Jaguar Owners Assn in the 1950's; President and Director of the Midwest Sports Car Club; and Driver, Navigator and Team Chief Engineer, Ford Motor Co., Lincoln-Mercury Division. As an automotive engineer, Ken enjoyed teaching adult auto mechanics classes to the uninitiated. If you were lucky enough to be Ken's friend, you could have all your mechanical issues diagnosed and fixed while listening to opera at Anthropomorphic Motors, Ken's garage. He often said, "I've never met an engine I couldn't out-think!" All his wheeled vehicles had names -- cars, bicycles, snow blowers, lawn mowers -- often operatic, sometimes alliterative, a play on words, or indicative of the country of origin. A cycling enthusiast and a founding member of Chicago's Old Town Bicycle Club, for many years he rode 50 miles in the northern Chicago suburbs every Sunday, as well as longer rides including TOSRV in Ohio, RAGBRAI in Iowa, and through the mountains of Vermont. Ever the curmudgeon, Ken had close friends around the country. As per Ken's wishes, no services will be held.