Kenneth E. Cates

1929 - 2019

BORN

1929

DIED

2019

Kenneth Cates Memoriam

In memory of Kenneth E. Cates.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by San Diego Union-Tribune on Mar. 21, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for Kenneth Cates

14 Entries

Kate Tobin

June 2, 2024

Although I never had he honor of meeting you, I love everything I know about you and I love your wife, Lark.

Brian Bullas

March 7, 2021

I was just thinking about my old friend and couldn’t believe he had passed. I can’t evenremember when we connected but it was because of our curiosity of the triathlon. Like Lark there was a big age difference but the there was just something about him that I knew was special. Of all the miles we ran,swam and biked my lasting memory was Ken on the podium at Ironman 83 accepting his award. He was a true warrior and friend. Love always Brian Bullas

Don Jordan

March 5, 2021

Thanks, Ken, for being a friend when I was one going through a difficult time in high school. You and Lark would listen to my Moody Blues records and I would listen to your Jazz records. Good memories at you place on Cable St. in OB.

Kind Regards,
Don Jordan
Monte Vista H.S. Class of 1979.

Randy Venier

March 31, 2019

My wife and I were extremely moved by the wonderful tribute published by Lark for Ken. We shared the tribute with many friends who were also moved to joy and tears. We dont know Ken and Lark, but wish we had.

Randy & Candice Venier
Encinitas, CA

March 30, 2019

Hi Lark- This is Lisa McGowan (Peter), Hal Sachs's daughter. We met at my dads 75th birthday party in Las Vegas. Dad cherished his long time friendship with Kenny, and thought the world of you. When dad passed away, I was given the 2 nose statues that you made for him. Pontiac and Zorba the Beak sit proudly on a shelf. We all should be so lucky as to have such a long time friendship as Dad and Kenny had.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Debbie Vadnais

March 27, 2019

What a beautiful, original, and heartfelt obituary written by Lark Cates about her beloved husband Ken. When you wrote, My husband, Ken Cates... my heart skipped a beat. I knew you were stepping out of the box and reaching out to me, the reader, to bring me in to your joy of loving such a special and gentle man as well as your sorrow of losing him. I will hold my husband a little bit closer tonight. Thank you!

Jim Koch

March 26, 2019

Easter time, 1964, a family vacation at a deserted beach miles south of San Felipe. Talks into the wee hours, perhaps helped along with a bit of tequila. He liked Goldwater, I really didn't. Political differences didn't affect friendships in those days. Racing each other down Baja back country trails, Ken in his dune buggy, me on my motorcycle. Foolish, but we survived. Horsing around at my house, raising hell and spraying each other with garden hoses, his VW bus smelling strongly of gasoline, and I told him to stay and to not drive it, but he headed home anyway. And he survived....barely. Flying down the Baja peninsula to Todos Santos with our very inexperienced pilot friend, Hal Tyvoll, and being forced down by bad weather. But we survived. So many other memories of sad times, upheavals, life challenges, happy times for us both. And Ken survived it all.....and he met Lark. Well done, my friend.

You are greatly missed.

March 26, 2019

To Ken's family, especially Brian who we have known since 1970 when we moved to Del Mar and needed help in our yard!! Brian, we met you and your Dad at one of the many triathlons in San Diego many years ago. What an inspiration he has been for you, all his family...and so many others. Definitely a life lived well.
cheers,
Steve & Al Tarkington

March 25, 2019

Travel safely and joyfully-aloha

Rebeca Cordova

March 25, 2019

How very fondly I remember Ken! He was a dear, longtime friend if our family, of my parents Jim and Elvira, since before I was born (I remember a picture of him holding me as an infant and I'm retirement age now!) I will never forget that joyful party he attended at our house before he was burned so badly in that terrible car accident. How I admired his resiliency, and his kind and gentle demeanor which always made him seem Budha-like to me. He was a very special human being.

March 24, 2019

Lark,I was saddened to read about your loss of Ken. He was always positive and upbeat. He was a true survivor; academic focuses, health recovery, athletic endeavors, investments and passion.The two of you were and are an inspirational team.Surely he is with his Maker.
Most sincerely,
Fred Oliver

Mike Wager

March 24, 2019

Mr Cates was my Psychology teacher at Monte Vista High in 1977. He was the coolest, kindest human I have ever met. His easygoing attitude towards life after such a terrible accident puzzled me then but after reading his obituary it all makes sense now. My sincere condolences to Lark and the entire Cates family. Ken was truly a wonderful man. Having only known him for 2 years he made a lasting impression on me and my wife of 40 years. We met in high school an had Ken as our teacher together. I knew he was special then but didn't realize just how awesome he was in life. I'm proud to have known him, even if only for a brief time
Mike & Sheryl Wager

PETER NOWELL

March 24, 2019

As a senior at Monte Vista, I had a psychology class he taught. Don't remember much about the course except that Ken brought in and played Cannonball Adderley's " Mercy, Mercy Mercy" album one day. That sparked a lifelong interest in Jazz. Thanks and Godspeed Ken.

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