Kenneth Ernest Needham

Kenneth Ernest Needham Yarmouth Port - Kenneth Ernest Needham, 79, of Yarmouth Port died of Congestive Heart Failure, June 2, 2023, at the VNA's McCarthy Care Center in East Sandwich, surrounded by his family and listening to some of his favorite music by Fleetwood Mac, the Jefferson Airplane, leaving us as Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline" played.

Ken, born in Worcester, MA to the late Albert E. and Rowena A. (Walker) Needham, leaves behind his loving and devoted wife of 57 years, Judith Chace Needham, as well as two children: daughter Jessica Duma (Christopher) of Newport Beach, CA and son Matthew (Alison) Needham, of Santa Clarita, CA. Ken also leaves six grandchildren: Chace, Matthew and William Duma and Benjamin (Shayan), Owen (Faith) and Willa Needham. In addition, he leaves his sister, Elaine Needham St. Onge Sargent (Wes) as well as several nieces, nephews and many cousins.

Ken graduated from North High School in Worcester and four years later, Cum Laude from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where he was inducted into honor societies Phi Kappa Phi and Beta Gamma Sigma. While at UMASS, where he met his wife to-be, Ken was also a proud member of ROTC and Scabbard & Blade, planning to be a Green Beret.

After their graduation, he and Judy married and headed for California and the University of California, Berkeley. Ken had received an Andrew Carnegie Mellon scholarship to continue his studies. Two years later, he received his Master's Degree in City and Regional Planning with an emphasis on Computer Systems, a new and exciting field.

Upon graduation, he began his US Army obligation which had been deferred for two years. Expecting to be sent to Fort Benning, GA, for Basic Training, Ken was instead ordered to report directly to the Pentagon as the military was in dire need of his computer expertise. Facing his incredulous sergeant his first day of reporting for duty, he was unsure how to correctly wear his uniform, his Lieutenant's bars and also unaware that his MOS had been changed from Army Intelligence to Military Intelligence. The Sergeant knew this young officer would be trouble! He enjoyed his Army years, and although he worked with high security military matters during the Vietnam War, he often said his most important job was to allocate parking spaces at the Pentagon and to partner his Colonel on the golf course.

Upon completion of his active Army service, he was recruited by an old Rand company offshoot, System Development Corporation of Santa Monica, CA, to work with Vladimir Almendinger. He and Vlad became business partners, their partnership extending over 50 years as they established several demographic mapping companies, including Urban Decision Systems and later Scan/US which Ken (and partner Vlad) still ran at the time of Ken's passing.

Living in Southern California, Ken could not stay away from the beach. He especially loved playing sand volleyball every spare moment at The Beach Club in Santa Monica where he served on the Board of Directors, and eventually as President of the Club.

In semi-retirement, Ken and Judy returned to Cape Cod. He found great pleasure in becoming involved with the Nickerson Family Association of Chatham to which his wife had ancestral ties. For many years he served on the Board as Directors and as chief docent of the Caleb Nickerson Homestead making new and lasting friends every Wednesday.

Papa Ken, Daddy-O, YoDad, Kennybabes, a kind and gentle man, had a great sense of humor. His children think he was a pretty perfect father (although rumor has it that he never learned to change a diaper). He enjoyed presiding over fun-filled boisterous dinners with his family, and he loved his wife dearly. His grandchildren want the world to know that he was just the best Papa, teaching them so many things. And also, that he had the nost epic mustache evah! And Judy wants to warn him, wherever he may now be, and as she did every time she left him, " Behave yourself. Don't do anything silly!"

The family wishes to thank the staff and caregivers at Cape Cod Hospital, the Pavilion Rehabilitation Center and the VNA's McCarthy Care Center for their kind, loving and compassionate care of Ken during his last months.

At this time, no services are planned. If you wish, you may make a memorial donation in his name to the non-profit

VNA , c/o CCHC Foundation,

P.O. Box 370, Hyannis, MA 02601

Or to the non-profit Nickerson Family Association,

P.O. Box296, No.Chatham,MA

02650-0296