On Monday, September 9, Machias Town Manager Bill Kitchen died unexpectedly, leaving a sudden and significant void in the greater community. His loss has been felt by all who knew and worked with him.
      Kitchen served as the town manager since May of 2021, prior to which he was a selectman and a marketing manager through his business, KitchenSync Consulting. Prior to coming to Maine in 2011 to live in Cutler's Little River Lighthouse, Kitchen explored a career in investment banking, owned a nightclub and became director of marketing for Sony Music International. He was the executive producer of two presidential inaugural balls. In 2014, he was a starring figure in the National Geographic reality show "The Watch."
      Kitchen was a staunch promoter of the goals and vision of Machias. "Bill Kitchen was a driving force behind so much of what makes Machias the community it is today," says Jake Patryn, chair of the Machias Select Board. "So many of his contributions are easy to see, from revitalizing Middle River Park and starting our beloved concert series to his unwavering commitment to keeping progress at Machias's airport on track."
      Selectman Ben Edwards says, "Bill befriended and built bridges with everyone he met, and the town benefitted from that, indirectly and directly." Describing Kitchen as "the single greatest advocate for the community that I knew in my lifetime," Edwards outlines how he'd come up with several key slogans -- including "Machias means business" and "A runway that saves lives and an airport that means business." "He changed the overall dynamic. He changed the way we look at what sets us apart. He saw our uniqueness --the things that make us as a community unique -- not as handicaps but as strengths to be leveraged and sung about."
      Edwards shares how he moved away and how Kitchen was responsible for "changing how I looked at coming back. That I was not limiting myself by coming back. That we could thing big and do big things here, even though we are an isolated, small community at the end of Maine. Bill changed the way I saw it. He had a skill with that."
      "We are a strong team that is fully prepared to carry on his legacy, because he made us so," Patryn summarizes. "Bill was simply a good person who wanted to do good, and I don't think even he fully understood the scope of the positive influence he had on all of us. He left us with more than just improvements or plans, he left a community better connected and more resilient because of his care and dedication. The effects of Bill's efforts will carry on indefinitely."
      "Bill cared deeply and equally for all the businesses of Machias," says Sandi Malagara, president of the Machias Bay Area Chamber of Commerce. "His passion for the businesses of the town was undeniable." In one instance, Malagara recalls, a small business owner was looking to set up just outside the town. "[Bill] reached out and said, 'Machias needs you. What can I do to support you in locating your business in Machias?'" When they replied with needing help finding land in Machias, Kitchen found it, and the business moved in. "He encouraged and guided new businesses and helped established businesses to thrive."
      "Bill's passing is an immense loss for the community and the university," says Joan Ferrini Mundy, president of UMaine and UMaine Machias. "He was a talented man who donated considerable time and energy to promoting educational access. Bill shared his love of Machias and Washington County at every opportunity. We are grateful for his contribution and perspective as a valued member of the UMaine Machias Board of Visitors."
      "I knew Bill, worked with him, and found him to be one of the most dynamic leaders in Maine," writes U.S. Senator Angus King. "His loss is a huge loss for Washington County and the state. I was always impressed by his vision, commitment and energy. It's truly a terrible loss."
      "Bill Kitchen was a hardworking, terrific person who cared deeply for the people of Machias and the state of Maine," writes U.S. Senator Susan Collins. "I had the pleasure of working with Bill on multiple projects to benefit the town, including the Machias Valley Airport runway extension. My heart goes out to his family and loved ones."
      The Machias town office is collecting community submissions of memories and comments with the intention of creating a presentation in tribute to Kitchen. Submissions may be sent to benedwards@me.com.