"Peggy, Charlie told us of Kevin's passing last night. We are so sorry for your loss and want you to know that our prayers and thoughts are with you at this difficult time."
In loving memory of
Kevin E. Kohler
June 16, 1954 - May 8, 2010
Kevin Kohler was the middle of three sons born to Johanna Tiedeman Kohler and Rudolph Kohler on June 16, 1954 in Amityville, NY. His family moved to South Florida in 1959. Growing up in North Miami, he was an excellent student and avid fisherman, boater, and scuba diver. He received both his BA (Math and Physics) and MS (Physical Oceanography) from the University of Miami. He began his oceanography career working in ocean modeling at NOAA in Miami, eventually ending up at Nova Southeastern Oceanographic Institution in 1983, first as Research Assistant in charge of programming and general computer facilities to finally Director of Computing Services. Throughout his career, he was involved with numerous research projects from ocean modeling to coral-reef oriented research. He wrote various software products which are in use worldwide for technical plotting (PSPLOT), coral x-radiography analysis (CoralXDS), coral reef monitoring and assessment (CPCe), as well as habitat equivalency analysis (Visual_HEA).
He was a man of many interests. Accordion studies in high school and college led to a National Award in Accordion Ensemble and a performance at Carnegie Hall. Later, in addition to his day job, Kevin enjoyed many years of performing professionally on keyboards in many settings. He really loved all kinds of music, from classical (especially Mozart), to blues, cajun, rock and bossa nova. His favorite all-time band was the Beatles and a highlight of a trip to London included a guided walk along Beatles historical sights. He was a big Miami Dolphins and Florida Marlins fan. Baseball was his favorite spectator sport as he enjoyed the strategies involved in the game. Scientific meetings and kaleidoscope conventions provided new opportunities to travel throughout the U.S. as well as to Bali, Japan, England and Curacao. Kaleidoscope collecting rekindled the wonder he first experienced as a child with toy kaleidoscopes as well as forming great friendships with the artists and other collectors. He loved to barbeque and was a fantastic and creative cook. Most recently, he returned to the sea through kayaking and fishing, and was looking forward to many more years when his life was cut too short on May 8. Although Kevin suffered a severe heart attack ten years ago, he never let it define his life or stop him from living normally.
Kevin is survived and sorely missed by Peggy, his partner of almost 30 years, his two brothers, Bob (Grace) and Lee (Grisel), his nieces, Kathryn (Ernie) and Nikki, Atali and Renate, his grandnephew, Mathew, his cousins George (Rénee) and Nancy, 2nd cousins Julie and David, Steve (Sheri) and Jeff (Lisa), and especially by Chloe and Josie.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the NSU Oceanographic Center Scholarship Fund, 8000 North Ocean Drive, Dania Beach, FL 33004. Please make check payable to NSU with memo Kevin Kohler Scholarship.http://videos.lifetributes.com/137674
Tributes
"i'm sorry to hear of your and our loss. i join with other brewster members to offer our condolences. kevin was a great friend and part of the society. he will be sadly missed but fondly remembered."
"I was introduced to Kevin by my two beagles which accompanied me walking in TY Park. Kevin liked the dogs and they reciprocated. We both were members of the Walking Club at TY Park. Kevin loved to walk early in the morning, and we would discuss world events, computers, politics, the environment, and etc. during our walks â??Ã?ì he was the best person to walk with as he had so many wide ranging interests. Now we hope he will continue walking in a better park. Henry"
"Peggy, Our prayers are with you in what is one of the saddest emails we have ever received. Kevin and you were on our short list of visits as soon as we re-settled, we will now come see you if you still wish for the visit. We loved Kevin, his brilliance, passion, and quick wit. We are so sorry for your loss and we feel it also in a personal way. The world has lost a great man. If you need to talk, give us a call at 405 651-3202, we love you and pray that God carries you in his loving hands during this period of loss. Much love, Paul and Susan Knox"
"Dear Peggy, I just want to tell you that your loss is a loss for all of us. Kevin was a wonderful man and I feel honored to have had to opportunity to get to know him, and to visit with him in many occasions during our kaleidoscope reunions. Please know that my heart and my soul are right now aligned with yours in sorrow. We are left with the memory of what a good man he was, and all the beautiful moments we shared. Love. Massimo."
"Kevin, you will be sorely missed. Peggy, my most sincere condolences. Seeing Kevin always put a smile on my face (whether it was at Nova, your street or at Publix!). I loved his easy going and generous nature, and his passion for science, water, and all things 'beautiful and intriguing'."
"Dear Peggy: We are very sad with Kevin's sudden passing. I know that this is a very difficult and challenging thing to grasp. Know that we care and wish we could be there with you. Kevin was very special! May the peace that passes all understanding keep you and protect you always. Please feel free to call on us if there is anything we might do. Walter & Karilyn Jaap"
"I was completely taken aback when I heard that you had left us so suddenly. I regretted that I never took the time to tell you how much your friendship and help meant to me over the years. All the times you jumped into the breach at the last minute when I had too many printing projects all in a big rush, or the old times with the testing of various types of hot sauce during lunch. I am also sorry that I was never able to meet your family until now, and that you did not ever meet my family. Time passes so quiclkly and opportunites that should have been taken have now been lost. God bless your family and all those you leave behind."
"I am at such a loss for words. I knew Kevin from the Brewster conventions and from email groups. Few worked as hard and had so much to offer. Your knowledge and leadership will be missed."
"Kevinâ??Ã?ôs absence will be a deep hole in our hearts, and an empty place in the universe. The memory of His vibrant being and kaleidoscopic mind will fill the hole and place over time but for now the hole will be filled with tears and prayers ."
"My prayers and thoughts are with you on this very sad occasion."
"May he be a blessed memory."
"I will never forget such a wonderful person as Kevin. I will see him in every mandala, and hear him in every laugh. He had the gentleness of a summer breeze, the warmth of a Florida night, the wit of Shakespeare, and the mind of Einstein. He had a way of looking at you with an expression that seemed to say, patiently... "Did you get that?" My deepest sympathies go out to Peggy, and to Kevin's friends and family, he will be truly missed."
"Dear Peggy, Kevin was a joy and an inspiration to know. His intelligence, wit, and caring will always be remembered and honored. So will his happiness in having you in his life. Tom and I send our deepest sympathy. judith paul"
"What a great guy, who will be so missed by his many, many friends"
"Kevin was a very special person who always took on more work while giving others all the recognition. I will greatly miss his caring, his insight, his support, his modesty, and his soul."
"I have been working with Kevin for the past two years on our volunteer love of Kaleidoscopes and the Brewster Society. He has been the kindest and most awesome person. I never got to give him the hug that I was waiting to give him in June when we made it to the convention but I am sure he is getting lots of them now. I will miss him very very much."
"Uncle Kevin, Gone but NOT forgotten.... I will forever cherish ALL the memories we shared when I was growing up. Family dinners and Miami Dolphin football games at the house to name a few. Everytime Matthew does "oohhh-a-neeeeeer" on Ernie's mustache, I think of when we did it to you when we were kids. You are now in a safer, more peaceful place reunited with you Mother and Father. They are so proud of all that you have accomplished, just as we are. Love always your niece and family, Kathryn Shafer (Kohler), Ernest and Matthew."