Ken Soeder passed away peacefully on March 9 after a courageous battle with cancer and a life well lived with no regrets. Anne Esposito-Soeder was by his side, giving thanks for the life of a man she is proud to call her husband, the unique Kenneth whose spirit, both internal and external, will never be extinguished from our minds.
Ken was born in Brooklyn, NY on April 24, 1957 to Frederick and Margaret Soeder. Ken relocated to Pearl River NY and also resided in Nantucket MA and Haddam CT. He is survived by his sister Elaine Moore and her family and his brother Richard Soeder and his family.
Ken moved to Mystic CT in 2016 after a long and distinguished career in the water treatment industry. He graduated from the State University of NY (SUNY) Oneonta with a B.S. in biology and chemistry. Ken received an M.S. in Water Resource Management from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse. In 2014, Ken was recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus by SUNY Oneonta. He earned the prestigious Certified Water Technologist credential presented by the Association of Water Technologies. Ken has published 12 technical papers on corrosion, deposit, and microbiological control. He has also been granted four US patents for new product developments.
After his first job at Drew Chemicals in New Jersey, Ken began as Senior Technical Advisor at Jamestown Technologies in West Haven, a respected supplier of chemicals and equipment used to maintain cooling, boiler, and waste water systems. In 2008 Ken partnered with two colleagues to purchase the company, renaming it Azure Water Services.
Ken was a true renaissance man. He was president of both the Haddam Ambulance Association and the Flying Club in Chester CT, where he was an instrument-rated private pilot with high performance complex and sea plane endorsements. He was a member of the SUNY Oneonta ski patrol and swim team, a photographer, golfer, tennis player, certified dive master, biathloner, and lover of cars and motorcycles. He loved his lawn and beach roses in the house he and his wife built in 2017. Ken was an avid boater. Much as he loved his Back Cove 29 and his Catalina 29 sailboat, he was just as happy with his Boston Whaler and riding his red Vespa around town.
Ken retired in 2020 and began in earnest a second career of volunteer work in his Mystic community. He volunteered at the Mystic Seaport Museum, especially enjoying telling stories as a docent on the Charles W. Morgan. He also enjoyed helping with the penguins at the Mystic Aquarium. Ken was an avid reader. (On his bedside table in Westerly Hospital, Ken had a copy of Bill Gates’ Source Code which Anne tried to continue reading to him.) Ken was a Trustee of the Mystic & Noank Library for six years, serving as secretary and as chairman of the Building & Grounds committee.
Ken was an active member of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary Mystic Flotilla from January 2021 to March 2025. He served as the Vice Flotilla Commander and held Flotilla staff officer positions for personal visitation and publications. He was awarded the USCG Unit Commander in 2024. Ken and Anne especially enjoyed their role as sponsor parents for international USCG cadets.
Ken attended church at Enders Island. A private family mass and a military USCG Auxiliary Service will be held, with a Celebration of Life at a later date.
Donations in Ken’s memory can be made to the Mystic & Noank Library.
“We were born before the wind, Also younger than the sun, ‘Ere the bonnie boat was won, as we sailed into the mystic.” "Who's better than us!" "Let the world come to you."