In Memory of Jake Kensinger 1948-2014

An album of photos I took of Jake Kensinger at various open mikes over the past few years

Jake was a long time musical partner to Ellen Schmidt in the group Two for the Show, and worked with Ellen for many years supporting Open Mikes and other music related projects in the Boston area.

Jake’s obituary, written by his partner Michele Boule:

Jack (Jake) Kensinger peacefully left the planet this past Tuesday October 21 at approximately 5:45AM in his Acton home, in his sleep. He resided most recently in Acton and in Littleton and Maynard with his partner of 15 years, Michele Boule.

Jack was born in Niagara Falls, NY in 1948, and graduated from Buffalo State University with a degree in engineering before moving to Massachusetts in the early 1980’s.

Jack was an avid and active musician all his life, a guitar virtuoso with a wonderfully harmonious voice. He was also an extremely competent sound engineer and craftsman with many interior renovation and design skills. He worked at Singer Corporation in NY, then GTE and consequently Genuity in MA, as “day jobs” for many years as a program director. He purchased and extensively renovated a home in Hyde Park,MA, residing there for 20 years before selling and moving out to the Acton-Littleton area.

Jack is survived by his music partner of 26 years, Ellen Schmidt of Concord. Jack and Ellen formed the group Two For The Show and performed in many venues including nursing homes and VA hospitals as well as local cafes and restaurants, conducting fund-raising benefits for many worthy causes and producing many community-inclusive musical and artistic collaborations including several local open mikes.

Jack loved the outdoors and loved to hike and to travel, especially to locations involving beaches, warm water and palm trees. He played football during his high school years in Niagara Falls, was on the swim team and enjoyed golf and softball during his GTE years in Massachusetts.

Jack is survived by his mother, Najla Kensinger, and his two brothers, Donald Kensinger and Kevin Kensinger and his sister Linelle, as well as nieces and nephews, all residing in the Niagara Falls area. He is survived by his ex-wife Bernadine Berock, residing in Newton, MA, as well as close cousins including Steven and Marsha Kargatis, residing in Atlanta, GA. There will be a burial service conducted in Niagara Falls NY at the Spallino-Amigone Funeral Home, Niagara Falls Chapel at 1300 Pine avenue, Niagara Falls, NY in the near future.

A local memorial celebration of Jack will be conducted on November 30th at the Parish Center for the Arts, Westford, MA, beginning at 6:30PM. Family and friends are invited to share stories, songs. music and light refreshments, further details will be posted as the time nears.

Donations may be made to the Night Ministry in San Francisco, 1031 Franklin Street, San Francisco, CA; the Boston Natural Area Networks, 62 Summer Street, boston, MA; and The Trustees of Reservations, MA.