HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — Kenneth Roeder Dawson died at home on Hilton Head Island on April 8. Ken was born November 5, 1946, and spent his formative years at 47 Essex Road in Chatham, N.J. In his early years he had a passion for geology and electronics, as well as a longstanding association with The Boy Scouts of America. It was through his experiences with the Boy Scouts that he developed a love for the outdoors and travel. Throughout his life he explored much of the United States and Western Europe, a favorite destination being Zermatt, Switzerland. He graduated with honors from Chatham High School and attended Steven’s Institute of Technology, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and a master’s in computer engineering. Along with his wife, Linda Jacobson Dawson, he raised his family in Bernardsville, N.J., and spent summers in the house they built on Swans Island, Maine.
Much of his engineering career was with utility companies, eventually landing at Public Service Electric and Gas in Newark, N.J. While he dedicated his days to engineering, he spent his nights and weekends building an auction and estate sale business with Linda.
What began as modest tag sales, run out of local New Jersey homes, grew into Dawson’s Auctioneers and Appraisers, one of the premier auction companies in the Manhattan and tri-state area. Eventually Kenneth retired from his engineering career to work full time as president of Dawson’s. The company quickly made a name for itself with high profile sales that included the Perry Como estate from Jupiter, Fla., and the sale of fine art from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Kenneth was a dedicated father, husband and grandfather. He is survived by his wife, daughter Heather Millicent Dawson of Highlands Ranch, Colo., son Jeffrey Stuart Dawson of Los Angeles, sister Millicent VanNess and her husband David of Pittsboro, N.C, and his grandchildren Jasper Dawson Alexander and Alice Millicent Alexander of Highlands Ranch, Colo. Memorial contributions can be made to the Hilton Head Humane Society, PO Box 21790, Hilton Head, SC 29925, where Kenneth spent much of his time as a dedicated volunteer.
