Kenneth Powell, former owner of the Essex Bridge Center, died Monday, February 26 at the Livingston home of his son and daughter-in-law, Alan and Meagan, and his wife, Rosalind. Born in Jamestown, New York, in 1943, Mr. Powell’s early career was in music and college administration. He earned a bachelor of music degree from Oberlin College Conservatory and a master’s and doctorate in organ performance from the University of Illinois. For 15 years, he was a professor and administrator at Centenary College (now University) in Hackettstown. He then earned an MBA from Rutgers University in accounting and his CPA designation. Following this, he served as vice president for finance at Manhattan School of Music and later Monmouth University. A lifelong duplicate bridge player, in 1995 he took over the Essex Bridge Center, located in the VFW Post in Livingston, assisted by his wife and his son, Alan. Offering bridge lessons, the center grew to be one of the largest American Contract Bridge League affiliated clubs in the United States. Mr. Powell is survived by his wife, Rosalind; his sons Robert and his wife Lisa, and Alan and his wife, Meagan; his brothers, Warren and Robert; and two grandchildren. A bridge game in his memory and for the benefit of Cycle for Survival, which funds research for rare cancers including brain cancer, will be held in the future; the date will be announced by the Essex Bridge Center. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mr. Powell’s name to Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, Oberlin, Ohio. Mr. Powell donated his body to the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Anatomical Association for anatomical study and research.
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