Life Legacy Kenneth L. Waters of New Canaan, CT died January 8, 2017 at his home following a brief illness. Born July 22, 1917 in Pound Ridge, NY, the son of Hobart and Eleanor Waters, he moved that same year to New Canaan and attended school here, graduating from New Canaan High in 1935, following which he attended Short’s Business School in Stamford. In 1939 he was appointed as a member of the New Canaan Board of Assessors. With the approach of World War II in 1940, Ken sought appointment as a sub-lieutenant in the Royal Navy for service aboard the fifty old destroyers being transferred from the U.S. Navy to the British under Lend-Lease. While awaiting official acceptance from the British consulate, he was inducted in the U.S. Army on March 21, 1941. Married to Lois Ventres of New Canaan on December 16, 1941, while on Leave, he served successively in the 102nd and 91st Infantry Regiments before being assigned to ships of the Army Mineplanter Service in May, 1942 because of his Coast Guard ships Operator’s License. Following eighteen months service assisting in the planting of submarine mines across the entrance of Chesapeake Bay, and having earned a Third Mate’s license, he was appointed a Warrant Officer, Second Mate of the USAMP “Frank” on November 3, 1943, then engaged in planting mines across the entrance of Delaware Bay, aboard which he served with a Second Mate’s license until honorably discharged on March 27, 1945. Volunteering in the Coast Guard Reserve in April, 1945, he was a deck officer aboard Merchant Marine ships until completion of the war with Japan. From 1946-50, Ken underwent architectural training with Donald G. Tarpley, A.I.A. in Darien, after which he became a Construction Examiner with the Federal Housing Administration from 1950-57. Ken was a Member, West School Building Committee 1957-1962; Assistant Building Inspector, Town of New Canaan, January 1958; Vice-Chairman, East School Building Committee 1962-1965; Certified as Building Official by the State 1973; Appointed Chief Building Official, Town of New Canaan 1979, Retired 1983; New Canaan representative, Southwestern Regional Planning Board 1987-1988; New Canaan Building Board of Appeals 1984; Chairman 1997-2000. New Canaan Auxiliary Police 1946-1981; Captain 1968, Retired 1981. During a writing career of fifty years, Ken wrote four books and hundreds of magazine articles. His sports were sailing, rifle shooting, shotgunning and hunting. Presented a library of World warship photos (1870-2000) as compiled by him to the U.S. Naval War College, Newport, RI. Pre-deceased by his devoted and deeply missed wife Lois after 64 years of marriage in 2006; also by his parents, sister Dorothy Waters Smith and brother Harry H. Waters, all of New Canaan. Ken is survived by his daughter Suzanne E. Waters, Senior Psychotherapist in Manhattan, also by brother-in-law George Ventres of Ridgefield,nephew Peter Ventres, Lieutenant Colonel, USAF (wife Michelle) of Navarre, Florida; nephews Tad Ventres of Ridgefield; Dale Ventres (wife Elena) of Wise River, Montana; also nephews Cody and Gerrit Ventres of Wise River , Montana; Nieces Jennifer and Tara Ventres of Venice East, Florida; as well as several grand-nephews and nieces. Services will be held at the Hoyt Funeral Home in New Canaan on Friday, January 13 at 1:00 PM. Family will receive friends 1 hour prior to service, followed by Military Services and burial at the Waters Plot, at Lakeview Cemetery in New Canaan. Memorial donations to either the New Canaan Historical Society or the New Canaan Volunteer Ambulance Service are suggested.