Ernest "David" Kemp

KEMP, ERNEST "DAVID" sailed away from his loved ones on Thursday, June 8, 2006 after a lengthy illness. David was born on November 23, 1936 in Lake County. He graduated from Tavares High School on June 3, 1954. He was a star football player as well as a 4-year honor student and President of the student body. David was always a huge Florida Gator fan. He received three degrees from the University of Florida. David received his Bachelor of Arts in 1959, Master of Education in 1959, Juris Doctor in 1967. He was a member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. David received his Master of Law in Taxation from New York University in 1968. After NYU, David became a law partner in the firm of Andrews, Smathers and Kemp. His 40+ years of practice included taxes, estate planning and real estate. In his younger years, David raced Formula Ford cars and became a partner with his close friend, Bo Laws, who states "David was a great partner and an even greater friend". Even though his racing career ended with an accident at Lakeland his passion for auto racing remained his entire life. David's true passion was always the sea. David bought his first sailboat in 1977 and created a charter- owner program with Morgan Sailboats, which prompted David to own many charter vessels. His passion for racing turned to the sea and David became a renowned winner of many sailboat races. News personnel from WESH Channel 2 accompanied David and his crew when he won first place in his class on the 1000- mile race from Daytona to Bermuda. The television documentary is called: "The Voyage of the Fantasticks". Four weeks later he won the July 4th Green Turtle race in the Bahamas. David was a three- time winner of the "St. Pete to Isla Mujeres" in the Yucatan Race. He was a member of the St. Petersburg Yacht Club for over 25 years. David's favorite area to sail was always the Keys. He fondly told stories of Kemp's Channel and Kemp's Key, which he claimed was part of the history of an ancestor, Privateer Kemp. David loved Lake County. He acquired 100's of acres of citrus groves in Lake County, which he owned for many years. He was most proud of his Lake County property that he always called the "highest mountain in Florida," Sugarloaf Mountain. After the 1980's David remained a resident of Lake County. He and his wife, Chris, enjoyed a vacation home in the Keys until his recent illness prompted them to sell the property. David leaves behind his beloved wife, Chris; son, Don; step-daughters, Mead Owens, Stephanie Varner, and Jamie Travis; step-granddaughters, Caitlin Owens, Parker Owens, and Madison Lewis; brother Ray Kemp; and sister Linda Berg. David was truly a brilliant man, a dear friend, an avid sailor, an auto racing enthusiast, and one of the greatest Gator fans who will be missed by many. Service is at 1PM Saturday, June 17, 2006, BALDWIN FAIRCHILD, Forest City Chapel, 622 West Semoran Blvd., Altamonte Springs FL 32714 407-869- 6065.