Kenneth R. Hopson of Greenwich died suddenly on Tuesday, Feb. 9. He was 58 years old.
Ken was born on April 28, 1957 in New Rochelle, N.Y., and his family moved to Metuchen, N.J., when he was 10. He was an all-star basketball player at Metuchen High and was recruited by Franklin and Marshall in Lancaster, Penn., where he played on the varsity squad. Ken graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business management and accounting.
Ken earned both a CPA and the CFA designation, and went on to have an extraordinary career in corporate finance. He held executive positions in finance and treasury for several multinational companies, including KPMG, UST, and Parsons Brinkerhof. Ken was most recently employed by the Barnes Group in Bristol, Conn., as a senior vice president and treasurer.
Ken also served as chairman of the New York Treasurers’ Association and served on the board of the Stamford Center of the Arts. He was a patron of the Greenwich Historical Society, the New York Academy of Art, and the American Museum of Natural History.
Ken’s career successes were far surpassed by the love he felt for his family, friends, community, and life in general. Ken was a true giver, loyal, generous, and fun. He was a sailor whose passion for the sea never waned. He longed for the day when he could once again sail on his own boat. He taught his two daughters to sail and play basketball.
He was an active member of Christ Church Greenwich, where he taught Sunday school and served as treasurer. He served for many years on the executive committee of the board of directors of the Stamford Shelter for the Homeless, including the position of board chair in 2012 and 2013. With his family, he was also an active member of Indian Harbor Yacht Club in Greenwich.
In the true spirit of his giving nature, Ken’s final act of helping others was through his gift of corneal, bone, and graft donations.
Ken is survived by the love of his life, Suzanne Eason Hopson, and two wonderful daughters, Sienna, 10, and Scarlett, 8. Ken was predeceased by his parents, Charles and Jean Hopson.
Friends paid their respects at Leo P. Gallagher and Son Funeral Home in Greenwich on Tuesday, Feb. 16, and funeral services were held the following morning at Christ Church in Greenwich. Many of Ken’s friends wore red—his favorite color.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to “The Kenneth R. Hopson Trust” for the benefit of Sienna and Scarlett’s higher education.
