Kenneth John Meade

The cause of death was respiratory failure, conjunctive heart failure, and chronic kidney disease, his family said.

Ken was the founder of Ken Meade Realty, the largest real estate company in the Sun Cities at the time of its acquisition by Coldwell Banker in 2014. For over three decades, Ken Meade and his company played a major role in shaping the way the Sun Cities matured and evolved as retirement communities. Serving on the boards of numerous charitable and civic organizations, Ken used his influence to help the Sun City area successfully tackle a wide variety of important issue. Among the organizations for which he served in key roles were Sun Health, the Sundome, Benevilla Community Care, the Sun Cities Visitors Center, the Sun Cities Symphony, and the United Way.

Ken received considerable recognition for his efforts, including awards from the Sun City Visitors Center (2007), the Glendale-West Board of Realtors (2006), the Metropolitan Club (2000), the Northwest Valley Chamber of Commerce (1997), and the Sun Cities Area Association of Realtors (1992). He was named the second most influential person in the Sun Cities by the News Sun newspaper in 1998.

Kenneth John Meade was born in Brooklyn, New York on November 25, 1925. The eldest of three children, young Ken enjoyed baseball and music, often playing drums in local bands. When the United States was attacked at Pearl Harbor in 1941, Ken dropped out of high school and joined the Navy, proud to serve his country.

After serving in the Navy until the end of World War II, Ken returned to New York where he completed his education. In 1951, he met Alice Steinman, and one year later they were married. The marriage produced three children, Steve, Janet, and Patricia. In July of 1958, Ken moved his family to Phoenix, Arizona with the hope that his son, Steve, who suffered from severe eczema, might improve.

The move proved to be fortuitous for both Steve and Ken. While Steve’s skin problems dramatically improved, Ken enrolled in an evening course on public speaking offered by Dale Carnegie. The course, he would say later, altered his perception of himself and his life goals. Soon after completing the course, Ken went into sales, working first as the sales director for Arizona Land Company and later as the sales manager of Legend City, a large amusement park that was constructed in Phoenix in the 1960s. Ken also sold printing for almost 10 years.

In 1974, Ken joined Del Webb in Sun City and became one of its leading sales associates. He started Ken Meade Realty in October of 1983 and worked there until 1999, when his wife, Alice, suffered a debilitating stroke. Determined to help Alice with her recovery, Ken retired from Ken Meade Realty and devoted himself to caring for her needs. For eight years, he nurtured, cherished and pampered her until she passed away on January 1, 2007. “Alice’s Wonderland,” a playground at the Benevilla Community Center in Surprise, is named in her memory.

Ken’s last years were spent reading and supporting numerous social causes. He will be deeply missed.

Ken is survived by his children, Steve, Janet, and Patricia, his grandchildren, Ryan and Cory, and his sister Joan Birkler.

Visitation will be held 1:00 p.m. Friday, May 12, 2017 at Desert Palms Presbyterian Church, 13459 W. Stardust Blvd., Sun City West, AZ. The service will begin at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Benevilla at 16752 N Greasewood St, Surprise, AZ 85378.