By Paul Sylvain

“Surreal” best describes the mood in Machias following the sudden passing of its beloved town manager, Bill Kitchen, on Sept. 9. He was 65.

Kitchen served a three-year term on the town’s selectboard, from 2017 to 2020. Then, on May 18, 2021, the selectboard unanimously voted to appoint Kitchen as interim town manager, after previous town manager Christina Therrien resigned, and then vacated her office six weeks sooner than expected. The board made Kitchen’s appointment permanent that October.

Kitchen, who was born Jan. 20, 1959, in Mineola, New York, and grew up in Connecticut, before he moved Downeast sometime in the early 2000s. Even though Kitchen was “from away,” he embraced Machias, and the town embraced him in return. Among his many roles in the Shiretown, Kitchen wrote and took photos for the Machias Valley News Observer from 2014-2016. 

Besides serving on the selectboard and as town manager, he was a former member of the Machias Budget Committee, planning director for the Machias Valley Airport, and co-chair of the town’s recreation committee. He also played a role in drafting the Machias Comprehensive Plan and served on the Downeast Coastal Conservancy’s Development Committee. However, Kitchen was especially proud of his time as a volunteer firefighter with the Machias Fire Department.

Upon learning of Kitchen’s passing, Philip Beer — one of Kitchen’s close friends from back in his days in New York — posted on Facebook, “The world lost someone who is impossible to describe in a few words. Bill and I met while I ran The Ritz. He was an incredibly skilled band booker, but that was the least of his talents. … When he became VP of Sony International Music, we spent nights listening to new acts.” 

Beer went on to say that Kitchen became executive producer of both of President Bill Clinton’s inaugural balls and received widespread recognition throughout the music industry before coming to Maine. “This is what he did,” said Beer, “but it didn’t tell his story. Bill sailed the world for months. Bill lived in an abandoned lighthouse off [the coast of] Maine for a year with no internet or significant contact with the outside world.”

Continuing, Beer explained that after Kitchen moved permanently to Maine, “He decided to turn Machias … into a thriving destination bringing businesses, culture, [and] pushing for an airport. Again, these are things Bill did, but not who he was. He was someone that could make you feel like your dumb business idea was brilliant and also map out how to make it successful. He was someone who cared about building things.”

Kitchen’s passing was also felt on the University of Maine at Machias (UMM) campus.

”Bill’s passing is an immense loss for the community and the university,” said UMM and University of Maine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy. “He was a talented man who donated considerable time and energy to promoting educational access. Bill shared his love of Machias and Washington County at every opportunity.” 

UMM dean and campus director Megan Walsh called Kitchen “a strong ambassador” for the university, adding that the town manager “was especially interested in helping students feel welcome in town and engaging them in local projects.”

Social media lit up almost immediately after news broke about Kitchen’s death.

Machias businessman David Whitney wrote. “Bill was such a force for good in Machias. Always with a positive word and an optimistic outlook. Bill found Machias and made her his pet project. As town manager, he coined [the phrase] ‘Machias means business.’

Continuing, Whitney added, “Bill was such an advocate for Machias business, that he readily was available to Whitney’s TriTown Marine when we had marketing projects. My favorite was his cameo [video role] as a cop in the Argo “chase” commercial. Our friendship was lengthy and deep. My family and I will miss him. This is a great loss for our town and all of the projects Bill held dear.”

”Bill could see the potential of the Machias area, and he loved to promote it,” Maine Game Warden and Downeast Revolutionary War reenactor Joseph McBrine wrote. “He knew [that] the people here are special and those people loved him. He had time for everyone and helped so many local organizations. He will be missed by everyone.”

Machias musician Duane Ingalls wrote, “I bid love and prayers for Bill's family and friends. ... We shared many experiences in the community, the arts, friends, projects. RIP my friend — You'll be greatly missed.” 

Ironically, Ingalls’ group, Sound Wagon, closed out the 2024 Bad Little Falls Park Summer Concert Series on Sept. 5. Kitchen, who started the concert series three years ago, was at Cloud Wagon’s show, smiling, greeting, and talking with concertgoers.

Bold Coast Coffee’s Troy Quimby posted, “In 2014, a man walked up to me and told me I was making fantastic coffee and that he wanted to help me become successful with my Bold Coast Coffee. We soon had an ‘Ambassador of Coffee Culture.’” 

Quimby added, “That was the beginning of a wonderful business relationship that turned into a friendship. Bill Kitchen brought an infectious vigor that lightened up any room. Our community lost Bill yesterday.  I am a better person for having known him, and I know he's sailing around the Bold Coast and checking out the lighthouses.  You'll be missed my friend.”

Helen’s Restaurant owner Julie Barker posted, “I will miss his positive energy, our thought-provoking discussions, and blueberry pie-eating contest responsibilities. The world needs more Bill Kitchens.”

Machias developer Justin King wrote simply, “You will be missed, old friend.”

“A devastating loss for the Town of Machias, the greater community, and everyone who knew him,” said Wendy Bagley Schoppee. “He is irreplaceable and will be greatly missed.”

Ray Williams agreed, saying, “He did so much for this town to help people in this town and to help this town grow. It's a very, very big loss.”

“I had the pleasure of getting to know a little about him when he took the time to meet with my Den of Cub Scouts last year,” Shannon Cherry wrote. “He talked to them about our community, some of the things he accomplished in life, and his own journey to earn Eagle Scout. He seemed like a wonderful man who was dedicated to his community.“

Ryan Malagara of Drone’s Eye View posted on Kitchen’s page: “A great friend of mine and amazing man is gone. It feels so unfair. I always felt uplifted after being with him. He was such a support to Sandi and I. He has done so much for our community. I love you Bill. The world is most definitely better because you were in it.”

“It’s amazing the impact someone can have on your life, even if you’ve never met them in person,” wrote Sharron Collins. “Thank you, Bill, for being an inspiration.”

While comments flooded social media, there was none more poignant than that of close friend and Machiasport selectperson Sarah Craighead Dedmon who first informed the community of Kitchen’s passing in the early morning hours of Sept. 10. 

“I’m so sorry to say that we lost our dear friend Bill Kitchen yesterday [Sept 9],” Dedmon wrote. “And when I say 'we,' I know I'm referring to countless people with whom Bill deeply connected and who also counted him as a friend. Plus his beloved partner Cat and precious family.”

The week closed out with a memorial service at noon Saturday, Sept. 14, at the Machias Memorial High School gymnasium. Kitchen is survived by partner Cat Cannon.

(Photo from Bill Kitchen’s Facebook Page)