Ken Kirk

Ken Kirk, born in New York City on April 9, 1945, passed away peacefully on March 18, 2024, surrounded by loved ones at his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico - the city he loved. He was 78. Although Ken's earthly body is no longer with us, his spirit will live on through the countless lives he touched and the legacy of his work.

Ken was born to Mary and Victor Kucharnik. He was raised in the New York City borough of Manhattan. Some of his fondest childhood memories included summers at the family's cabin in Rova Farms, Jackson Township, NJ, where he and his friends spent their days biking, swimming, and exploring the countryside. Back in Manhattan, the Boys' Club of New York had the biggest impact on Ken's life. It provided an outlet for him to keep busy playing sports like basketball and boxing, doing arts and crafts, and many other activities.

Most notably, with the assistance of the Boys' Club of New York, Ken received a scholarship to attend high school at the prestigious Suffield Academy in Suffield, Connecticut. It was at Suffield that Ken began to realize his potential to succeed and make a difference in the world. Upon graduating from Suffield, Ken attended New York University, where he graduated with honors. He went on to earn a law degree from Georgetown University and a Master of Laws in Environmental Law from George Washington University.

Ken had a remarkable career in public service. His career began in 1973 as an attorney and advisor in the Office of Legislation for the newly formed Environmental Protection Agency. Years later, he became the Executive Director of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA, then AMSA), an organization that has grown to represent over 350 publicly owned wastewater utilities dedicated to improving the quality of the nation's waters and protecting public health.

Ken oversaw all association operations and directed its legislative, regulatory, and legal initiatives under the Clean Water Act. He collaborated with Administration and federal agency officials, members of Congress, and state organizations - and he coined the term "one water" to ensure collaborative solutions to increasingly complex water challenges. Ken was a tremendous leader who worked tirelessly for more than three decades to help build NACWA into the successful and influential organization it is today, and to open the door to many people's careers in water and environmental protection.

Ken was a dedicated husband, a loving father, and a dear friend and mentor to many. In his free time he loved to read, play golf, do crosswords, watch the news... and buy lots of art! For many years, he and his beloved wife, Aurora, enjoyed splitting their time between Washington, DC and Santa Fe, before eventually retiring to the Land of Enchantment.

Ken was predeceased by his parents and his sister Nancy. He is survived by his wife Aurora, his son David, his niece Tamara, and his nephew Tommy.

Ken often credited the Boys' Club of New York and Suffield Academy for providing guidance and purpose at vital points in his youth. Contributions in Ken's honor can be made to these two institutions at:

- https://bcny.org/support/donate

- https://suffieldacademy.org/donate

A memorial for Ken will be held later this spring and we will notify all friends and family as details become available.