Pam McCarthy’s husband passes away

Pam McCarthy with husband Ken Pakenham

Ken Pakenham, husband of former BJ State Desk reporter Pam McCarthy, passed away Sunday, December 29.

They were married almost 32 years, living in North Canton where Pam was a journalism and English teacher at Hoover High School for 33 years till her “retirement” in 2008 to become district manager for Arbonne International, a skin and health products company.

Ken taught English and grammar at the University of Akron.

Ken, from Belfast, Northern Ireland, and Pam were married in 1988 and have twins Michael and Kate.

Pam has another daughter, Los Angeles attorney Bethany Marvin Stevens, whose father is former BJ photographer Tom Marvin.

The note from Pam:

It is with great sadness that I mourn the loss of my dear husband, Ken Pakenham. He passed peacefully this morning, after spending last evening surrounded by family. Loved by his children and grandchildren, former co-workers and students, and many friends and relatives, Ken will be remembered for his intelligence, diligence, sense of humor, and most of all, his kind heart.

As many of you know, Alzheimer’s Disease took him from us too soon, but I cherish the time we had together: nearly 32 years of marriage, many visits to family abroad, enjoying raising our children. Following Ken’s diagnosis, we traveled while we could, visiting family and friends and American landmarks and foreign destinations. When we had to give up traveling, we continued to enjoy University of Akron soccer games and various area musical performances. When I could no longer care for him at home, we spent nearly every evening together at Arden Courts in Akron, where he resided until today.

I am grateful to our children for the love and support they provided.
I am grateful to the many friends and relatives who never failed to ask about Ken or help in any way they could.
I am grateful for the support of the Alzheimer’s Association and their many resources.
I am grateful for the wonderful staff at Arden Courts, who treated Ken as they would treat their own family members.

It has been a wonderful life with a wonderful man, and I will miss him to the end of my days. 
 

Ken’s obituary:

Dr. Kenneth John Pakenham, 73, passed away peacefully on December 29, 2019.

Born on February 27, 1946, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, he lived much of his adult life in North Canton, Ohio.

Ken was a scholar. Following graduation from the Royal Belfast Academical Institution, he attended Trinity College Dublin, where he majored in German and French, graduating in 1969 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He then earned a Graduate Certificate in Education from the University of Leeds, England, in 1970, and taught English in Germany for several years.

He later earned an MA Degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Essex, England, in 1974. He earned his doctorate at the University of Pittsburgh, graduating in 1980 with a PhD in Linguistics.

Ken joined the English Department at The University of Akron where he taught Linguistics and English as a Second Language and served as Director of the English Language Institute. He retired in 2010 as Associate Professor Emeritus.

He was the author of four ESL reading textbooks, including three editions of Making Connections: Skills and Strategies for Academic Reading. 

He attended St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Canton, where he served as a member of the Vestry and as an usher.

Ken is survived by his wife of 31 years, Pam McCarthy; daughter Bethany Marvin Stevens (Andy), of Los Angeles, CA; twins Michael (Courtney) of University Heights, and Kate, of Solana Beach, CA; brother Ralph (Patricia), of Fochabers, Scotland; sisters-in-law Kathy McCarthy and Karen Uber, of Cuyahoga Falls; grandchildren Jackson and Elia Stevens; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents John and Kay Pakenham of Belfast, N.I.

The family would like to thank Arden Courts of Bath for their compassionate care of Ken. The family is also grateful to the Alzheimer's Association for their resources and support.

Calling hours are 4-7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 3, at the Arnold Funeral Home, 4817 Cleveland Avenue, Canton, OH 44709. 

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 4, at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 515 48th St., NW, Canton, OH 44709, with guests received an hour before the service. 

Memorial contributions may be made by check to the Dr. Kenneth J. Pakenham Memorial Scholarship, and mailed to John Arnold, Arnold Funeral Homes, 4817 Cleveland Avenue, Canton, OH 44709.