Sunday Obituary: Mr. Henderson patronized the performing and visual arts
Saturday, November 8, 2008 11:34 PM PST
By Leslie Slape
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E-mail this articleKen Henderson surrounded his life with beauty.
"He loved opera, ballet, symphony, you name it," said his sister, Marney Kittelson. "The arts, that was it."
Henderson, a philanthropist, community booster and patron of the arts, died of cancer Oct. 22 at the Hospice Care Center. He was 79.
His three-story home in the hills above Longview, which Kittelson has moved into, is filled with paintings, sculptures, carvings, crystal, art glass, drawings, batik and other works of fine art in many different media, ranging from primitive to contemporary, realistic to expressionist, functional to whimsical.
"There’s something here to appeal to everybody," said Shirley Smith of Longview, a longtime friend.
Kittelson said she used to tease her brother by calling his home "the museum."
Smith said he loved to support Northwest artists and was the first person to buy art at Portland’s Laura Russo Gallery. His collection of art glass is heavy on Dale Chihuly, a Tacoma native who exhibits at the Museum of Glass there.
Henderson was born May 11, 1929, in Longview, to Longview pioneers K.T. and Louella Henderson. His parents owned and operated K.T. Henderson Construction, which built many of Longview’s schools, banks and commercial buildings. His mother was a supporter of the arts and civic organizations.
After Henderson graduated from R.A. Long High School in 1947 and the University of Washington in 1952, he served in the Army during the Korean War. Then he moved to San Francisco, became an interior designer and married Ruth Schneiter in 1957.
"Then dad passed away," Kittelson said. Henderson returned to Longview to run the business with his mother.
"That wasn’t his cup of tea, construction," Kittelson said. "He didn’t like getting out in the mud."
But he loved Longview and he inherited a powerful work ethic from their parents, she said. He kept the business going 20 years until he closed it in 1978. Then he spent three or four years as curator of the LCC art gallery before he retired and became a serious art collector.
He and Ruth divorced in 1967. After that he and his partner, Bill Rosso, built the house in Longview that they shared for 36 years until Rosso’s death in 2006.
He and Rosso, who also loved art and music, took regular cruises around the world and bought art, said Smith, who met them through her job at Hadley Travel.
Of Henderson’s many civic interests, Rotary was closest to his heart, Smith said. He was a member of Longview Noon Rotary since 1961 and played the National Anthem on the piano at meetings. He served as secretary/treasurer for 18 years.
He also served on the board of directors of the LCC Foundation, Southwest Washington Foundation, Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts and Southwest Washington Symphony and the Community Action Program Foundation, which issued a statement upon his death:
"Ken was a very gentle soul, and he brought his gracious, gentle manner to the board of directors of the CAP Foundation. His wise and steady judgment played a key role in forming the foundation’s direction."
Other memberships included Kelso-Longview Chamber of Commerce, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Longview Country Club, Harlequin Dance Club, Couples Investment Club, the Republican Party, Council of Contemporary Arts, Portland Art Museum and St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Portland.
His philanthropy will continue, his sister said. Her brother’s will states that after the family members have selected the art pieces they wish to keep, the remainder will be sold at auction and the money will be donated to various charities.
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