Obituary for John T. Kemp
Stafford
July 10, 1944—May 2, 2020
•Retired president, MACK Real Estate
•Retired supervisor Town of LeRoy
•Kemp brought LeRoy a source of water that, for the first time, could be controlled by the town
•Kemp’s leadership on the board left the Town in unusually solid fiscal condition in 1999
The son of John M Kemp and Carmel Rose “Queenie” Philibin, John grew up in LeRoy, and moved to Stafford with his family in 1957. He studied business courses, both at Notre Dame High School and The University of Mississippi.
In 1968, he joined David Graham and Gerald Perkins in buying Mack Real Estate, Inc. from Margaret Mack; and 20 years later bought out Graham and Perkins to become the firm’s sole owner. Popular among his peers, he also served one term as president of the Livingston County Board of Realtors.
In 1972, he married Brenda Wetherbee, with whom he had three children: Kenneth (Crissy), Friendswood TX; Allison (Daniel O’Shea), Johannesburg SA; and Meredith (Aidan Baigrie), Laguna Beach CA.
After serving two years as a LeRoy Town Council member, John was elected Supervisor of that body for two terms. When he retired in 1999, one of his board members said:
“He liberated the Town from the Village’s control of the water... and left the Town essentially debt free, with money in the bank.”
John also held positions as both town of Stafford and County of Genesee Republican Committeeman.
To his children, John was a combination of inspiration, love, and entertainment. They were proud of his success. They were comforted by his attention and warmth. And they were lifted up by his uncanny wit and his ability to find a humorous side to almost any situation. They treasured him.
John was a 30-year member of Stafford Country Club, a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus, Council 2936, a lifetime member of Saint Peter’s Church in LeRoy, and a “Johnny Carsonesque“ storyteller, who was loved by all who knew him.
He had an apparent heart attack in the middle of the night at his home in Stafford, and died peacefully in his sleep. In addition to his three children and their spouses, he is survived by his eight grandchildren (Carson, Emma, and Madison Kemp; Madeleine, Maeve, and Meara O’Shea; Quinn and Jack Baigrie) his sister, Mary Catherine (Lawlor Quinlan) Bluffton SC, and six Quinlan nieces and nephews, all of whom absolutely loved their “Uncle Johnny”.
Family and Friends are invited to attend his Rite of Christian Burial on Saturday October 10, 2020 at 11 AM at Our Lady of Mercy Parish, St. Peter’s Church, 44 Lake St. LeRoy Interment St. Francis Cemetery LeRoy Arrangements Cameron Brady & Steuber Funeral Home 111 Wolcott St. LeRoy NY.
July 10, 1944—May 2, 2020
•Retired president, MACK Real Estate
•Retired supervisor Town of LeRoy
•Kemp brought LeRoy a source of water that, for the first time, could be controlled by the town
•Kemp’s leadership on the board left the Town in unusually solid fiscal condition in 1999
The son of John M Kemp and Carmel Rose “Queenie” Philibin, John grew up in LeRoy, and moved to Stafford with his family in 1957. He studied business courses, both at Notre Dame High School and The University of Mississippi.
In 1968, he joined David Graham and Gerald Perkins in buying Mack Real Estate, Inc. from Margaret Mack; and 20 years later bought out Graham and Perkins to become the firm’s sole owner. Popular among his peers, he also served one term as president of the Livingston County Board of Realtors.
In 1972, he married Brenda Wetherbee, with whom he had three children: Kenneth (Crissy), Friendswood TX; Allison (Daniel O’Shea), Johannesburg SA; and Meredith (Aidan Baigrie), Laguna Beach CA.
After serving two years as a LeRoy Town Council member, John was elected Supervisor of that body for two terms. When he retired in 1999, one of his board members said:
“He liberated the Town from the Village’s control of the water... and left the Town essentially debt free, with money in the bank.”
John also held positions as both town of Stafford and County of Genesee Republican Committeeman.
To his children, John was a combination of inspiration, love, and entertainment. They were proud of his success. They were comforted by his attention and warmth. And they were lifted up by his uncanny wit and his ability to find a humorous side to almost any situation. They treasured him.
John was a 30-year member of Stafford Country Club, a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus, Council 2936, a lifetime member of Saint Peter’s Church in LeRoy, and a “Johnny Carsonesque“ storyteller, who was loved by all who knew him.
He had an apparent heart attack in the middle of the night at his home in Stafford, and died peacefully in his sleep. In addition to his three children and their spouses, he is survived by his eight grandchildren (Carson, Emma, and Madison Kemp; Madeleine, Maeve, and Meara O’Shea; Quinn and Jack Baigrie) his sister, Mary Catherine (Lawlor Quinlan) Bluffton SC, and six Quinlan nieces and nephews, all of whom absolutely loved their “Uncle Johnny”.
Family and Friends are invited to attend his Rite of Christian Burial on Saturday October 10, 2020 at 11 AM at Our Lady of Mercy Parish, St. Peter’s Church, 44 Lake St. LeRoy Interment St. Francis Cemetery LeRoy Arrangements Cameron Brady & Steuber Funeral Home 111 Wolcott St. LeRoy NY.