Kenneth Southworth 3rd Was Active in Edgartown

Kenneth A. Southworth 3rd of Edgartown, 61, died in the early morning hours of Saturday, March 29, at the Martha's Vineyard Hospital. He was the husband of Susan W. (Spencer) Southworth, to whom he was married for 16 years.

Born in Orange, N.J., to Kenneth A. Southworth Jr., and Dorothea P. (Petersen) Southworth, he was raised in Millburn, N.J., and atended Millburn High School, graduating in 1959. He attended Trinity College and received his BA degree in psychology in 1963. Following graduation he joined Chemical Bank New York Trust Co. He received his law degree from New York Law School in June of 1967.

In 1979, Mr. Southworth moved to Miami and joined Florida National Bank of Miami as senior vice president and trust officer. Two years later he relocated to Tampa and joined Freedom Savings and Loan Association as senior vice president and trust officer.

A member of the Southworth family, which traces its Vineyard roots back over 200 years, Mr. Southworth moved to the Island permanently in April of 1983, where he was associated with various Island businesses and opened his own law practice in 1991.

He was also involved in various pet projects and dove into them with keen enthusiasm and dedication. Chief among them was the Edgartown planning board, which he served for many years. He was also on the Edgartown dredge committee and a trustee of the Edgartown Library. He was a longtime member of the Edgartown Reading Room, Edgartown Yacht Club and Edgartown Golf Club. He was also a member of the Federated Church, where he served on the Diaconate.

In addition to his wife, he leaves his son, Kenneth A. Southworth 4th of Darien, Conn.; his daughter, Laura S. Sorota of Andover; and his step-sons, Gary A. Scheller of Attleboro and Jeffery W. Scheller of Fall River. Survivors also include his mother, Dorothea P. Southworth, and his brother, Edward B. Southworth 3rd, both of Edgartown; his nephew, Edward B. Southworth 4th; his cousins, James T. Caterson and John A. Brough Jr., and six grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at the Federated Church in Edgartown on Saturday, April 5, at 2 p.m. Donations may be made in his memory to the Federated Church or to the Edgartown Library. Arrangements are by the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs.