Kenneth Peter Cotich

Ken was born February 1, 1961 in Schenectady, NY to the late Peter J. Cotich, and Ruth F. Cotich (Taylor) and passed away on June 10, 2022 in New Freedom, PA.He grew up in Colonie, NY, where he attended Colonie Central High School. While at CCHS Ken excelled in Track (Captain), Band (President), and National Honor Society.He won gold medals in the Inaugural 1978 Empire State Games in the 120 High Hurdles and 300 Intermediate Hurdles and was State Runner Up in the indoor 60 yd Hurdles in 1979. Upon leaving HS Ken attended Northeastern University in Boston on a full athletic scholarship, studying Industrial Engineering.Ken won the Greater Boston 60 yd hurdle Championship in 1980 and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Industrial Engineering in 1984. After college, Ken started his career in the food industry with Frito Lay holding a variety of advancing positions.That continued on with several companies, most significant were 7 years with Interbake Foods in Richmond as Plant Manager, and 12 years with Barry Callebaut USA as VP of Sales and then VP of Operations and Chief Operating Officer for BC North America.His last assignment was a CEO of Labriola Baking Co in Chicago, which he retired from, for health reasons in 2016. After retirement Ken and his wife became heavily involved in animal rescue in the PA area.Ken worked with several rescues doing adoption events, picking up animals for transfer to no-kill shelters, doing fundraisers, and fostering animals in need.Ken also served on the Board of Directors of Animal Rescue Inc, in New Freedom, PA. He is survived by his loving wife of 33 years, Debra K. (Stuart) Cotich, three stepchildren, Kelli (Thibodeau) Perkins of Richmond, VA, Brian Thibodeau of Carmel, IN, and Mindy (Thibodeau) Utley of American Fork, UT; as well as, 9 grandchildren, Abby, Noah, Oliver, Amelie, Vivienne, August, Emmett, Scott and Wyatt . He is also survived by his two sisters Lynne (Cotich) Cote of Guilford, CT and Patricia (Cotich) Consolo of Latham, NY. Ken is preceded in death by his first wife Christina (King) in 1988, his father Peter in 1994, and his mother Ruth in 2018. Ken always said it is not the number of years you live, but the experiences you have during those years that determines the fullness of one’s live.Blessed with the Joy of a full and loving family, and given the many great friends he has made along the way that have meant so much to him, he has traveled the world and enjoyed an abundance of unique adventures. He truly feels he got his lifetime worth. If you would like to make a donation in his honor, please send it to Animal Rescue, Inc. in New Freedom, PA. www.animalrescueinc.org