ABOUT
Ken was born in an Amish-type community in central Illinois. He left the farm to attend the University of California in the turbulent sixties. His childhood experiences in a small religious community — some wonderful and some difficult — shaped the qualities people know Ken for... curiosity, openness, compassion, an exploratory nature, and a deep commitment to creating community.
After taking a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of California, he found himself in a difficult position. The war was raging in Vietnam, and he was #53 in the draft lottery — a sure bet on being drafted.
Given his philosophically non-violent upbringing, he chose to leave the States instead of joining the war. After traveling extensively throughout Europe, eventually his savings ran out and he took a job running a small mountain farm in a tiny village on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, off the coasts of Greece and Turkey.
After taking a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of California, he found himself in a difficult position. The war was raging in Vietnam, and he was #53 in the draft lottery — a sure bet on being drafted.
Given his philosophically non-violent upbringing, he chose to leave the States instead of joining the war. After traveling extensively throughout Europe, eventually his savings ran out and he took a job running a small mountain farm in a tiny village on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, off the coasts of Greece and Turkey.
Upon returning to the States, Ken went back to school and earned a Master of Divinity degree in St. Louis, Missouri. Throughout his long career in ministry, he acted as Hospital Chaplain in five hospitals in the St. Louis and Denver metro areas.
He entered seminary and was ordained as clergy in the United Methodist Church. Much to the consternation of his bishop, Ken was usually 'stirring up the pot' in a Church that prided itself on keeping a lid on the status quo. It wasn't long before he earned the nickname 'IrReverend Ken' — a moniker with which he was quite pleased, and wore proudly.
As a Chaplain Supervisor in Training, he taught chaplain seminary students the art of listening and being with people through difficult times. He would tell his students, "If you are going to be a good Chaplain, then you must learn ‘The Way of Father Mulcahy' (M*A*S*H). You must find a way to touch their heart. You must learn to talk with a Buddhist as easily as a Baptist -- a Tea-totaler as easily as a heavy drinker".
This was Ken's style of ministry -- unorthodox, but genuinely compassionate, just like Father Mulcahy. And when a Presbyterian wanted to marry a Jew, Ken was happy to be the one to perform that ceremony.
He entered seminary and was ordained as clergy in the United Methodist Church. Much to the consternation of his bishop, Ken was usually 'stirring up the pot' in a Church that prided itself on keeping a lid on the status quo. It wasn't long before he earned the nickname 'IrReverend Ken' — a moniker with which he was quite pleased, and wore proudly.
As a Chaplain Supervisor in Training, he taught chaplain seminary students the art of listening and being with people through difficult times. He would tell his students, "If you are going to be a good Chaplain, then you must learn ‘The Way of Father Mulcahy' (M*A*S*H). You must find a way to touch their heart. You must learn to talk with a Buddhist as easily as a Baptist -- a Tea-totaler as easily as a heavy drinker".
This was Ken's style of ministry -- unorthodox, but genuinely compassionate, just like Father Mulcahy. And when a Presbyterian wanted to marry a Jew, Ken was happy to be the one to perform that ceremony.
In 1981, Ken went on to found Hope Care & Counseling Centers in Denver, Colorado. He was the Executive Director for 22 years. In this position, he developed and supervised over 20 satellite pastoral counseling centers throughout the Denver Metro area.
During his time at Hope, Ken became an adjunct college professor, teaching evening classes in psychology and comparative religion — which he did for 16 years.
Kindled by his affinity for blending psychology with theology in his work, he returned to academia in 1986 to earn his Doctoral Degree in Pastoral Counseling from The Graduate Theological Foundation at Notre Dame University. Ken transitioned to become a Certified Marriage and Family Therapist and a Fellow in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors: two roles in which he was proud to distinguish himself clinically.
Kindled by his affinity for blending psychology with theology in his work, he returned to academia in 1986 to earn his Doctoral Degree in Pastoral Counseling from The Graduate Theological Foundation at Notre Dame University. Ken transitioned to become a Certified Marriage and Family Therapist and a Fellow in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors: two roles in which he was proud to distinguish himself clinically.
While transitioning away from his years with Hope Care & Counseling, Ken began spending more time traveling and writing. In 2000, Ken semi-retired and embarked on the research and development of European travel guides for people with limited mobility. Collaborating with the well-known PBS travel guide, www.ricksteves.com/about-rickRick Steves. Ken co-wrote a popular book about accessible travel called Easy Access Europe: A Guide for Travelers with Limited Mobility that has gone to press twice with Avalon Travel Publishing.
This first attempt at retirement brought with it further expansion and creativity. Ken started spending more of the year working and writing at the home he owned in Mexico at the time, overlooking the Sea of Cortez. And at home in Denver, he became very involved with The ManKind Project.
This first attempt at retirement brought with it further expansion and creativity. Ken started spending more of the year working and writing at the home he owned in Mexico at the time, overlooking the Sea of Cortez. And at home in Denver, he became very involved with The ManKind Project.
MKP's purpose is "to change the world one man at a time by helping men connect head and heart, while leading lives of integrity, authenticity and service". During his time with MKP, Ken participated in and co-facilitated men's leadership trainings and experiential personal growth seminars.
He served for 3 years on the MKP Board of Directors. He was then proud to be elected to be the Center Director of the Colorado ManKind Project, a role he filled from 2005 to 2007. In 2008/09, he was elected and served as Vice-Chair of the MKP International Council of Elders. Ken's time with MKP took him to Canada, England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Greece, and Turkey to facilitate personal growth workshops for men focusing on the topic of vibrant elderhood.
He served for 3 years on the MKP Board of Directors. He was then proud to be elected to be the Center Director of the Colorado ManKind Project, a role he filled from 2005 to 2007. In 2008/09, he was elected and served as Vice-Chair of the MKP International Council of Elders. Ken's time with MKP took him to Canada, England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Greece, and Turkey to facilitate personal growth workshops for men focusing on the topic of vibrant elderhood.
These passions became integrated with past chapters and catalyzed a further calling for Ken, opening him up to his next big professional chapter: working with clients & patients on issues connected to conscious aging, elderhood issues, grief, and conscious dying.
In 2003, Ken was invited to join the hospice chaplain team by a dear friend, mentor, and former seminary professor who was then working as a hospice chaplain in Denver. Ken accepted. He was surprised to find this work to be a breath of fresh air. It felt like the best part of counseling — because when people are dying, they are undefended, they're more authentic, more real. In hospice, with only months left, many patients experience a spiritual awakening — and often with little resistance from their ego.
In 2003, Ken was invited to join the hospice chaplain team by a dear friend, mentor, and former seminary professor who was then working as a hospice chaplain in Denver. Ken accepted. He was surprised to find this work to be a breath of fresh air. It felt like the best part of counseling — because when people are dying, they are undefended, they're more authentic, more real. In hospice, with only months left, many patients experience a spiritual awakening — and often with little resistance from their ego.
Ken went on the serve the Denver community as as Hospice Chaplain through 2007. And then came the call from his sister in Arizona: it was time to relocate to Tucson to help care for his aging folks who had moved there from central Illinois years earlier to retire near their daughter and granddaughter.
In Tucson, Ken became the Director of Social Services and also a clinical supervisor at a large hospice in Pima County. For 3 years, he oversaw the social services team, comprised of chaplains, social workers, bereavement counselors, and volunteers.
Out of this work, Ken developed a training program within hospice helping professionals, patients and their families deal creatively and consciously with the emotional and spiritual aspects of the death and dying process. Pairing this with his community awareness work on the topic of aging well, Ken continues to write, speak, and coach on the topic of consciously creating 'vibrant elderhood'.
In Tucson, Ken became the Director of Social Services and also a clinical supervisor at a large hospice in Pima County. For 3 years, he oversaw the social services team, comprised of chaplains, social workers, bereavement counselors, and volunteers.
Out of this work, Ken developed a training program within hospice helping professionals, patients and their families deal creatively and consciously with the emotional and spiritual aspects of the death and dying process. Pairing this with his community awareness work on the topic of aging well, Ken continues to write, speak, and coach on the topic of consciously creating 'vibrant elderhood'.
Beginning afresh in the Sonoran desert with his then-new wife, Claire O'Connor, together they embarked upon 5 years of immersive somatic trainings under the personal mentorship of Gay Hendricks and Kathlyn Hendricks of the Hendricks Institute for Conscious Living. During this time, Ken and Claire both became Certified Conscious Relationship Coaches, and they continue to use & teach the skills they learned to create an intentional, awake, and playful life together.
In 2012, Ken convinced Claire to sell their home in Tucson in order to retire to the south of France—to Roquebrun, an exquisite little village of 600 inhabitants on the banks of the River Orb in the heart of the wild Languedoc region. It was a Bucket List adventure that delivered an abundance of blessings and experiences. After a year-and-a-half of international living in France and extended travel in Ireland, Italy, and Spain, Claire said to Ken that her heart was calling her back to the Sonoran Desert.
Ken was amenable once Claire assured that him his international travels would still be a household priority. And so Ken happily spends at least one month a year with friends abroad, most recently in Crete, England, and Scandinavia. Ken also adventures with his son, Nikos, who is following his dreams as a Wilderness EMT, back-country medicine instructor, and ski patrol supervisor in Colorado.
Ken is now based in southern Arizona, in Tucson's beautiful Sonoran Desert. He continues to work part-time as a chaplain while offering mentoring, advocacy, coaching, consulting, facilitation, and celebrant services. He is available to work with clients worldwide.