Thomas Neil Kay, beloved brother of Susan Kay, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, November 27, 2016. He was 72. He was born in New York City on May 5, 1944 and moved with his family to Jacksonville Beach, FL in 1953. Tom attended Duncan U. Fletcher High School and graduated from Florida Military School in Deland, FL in 1962. He also attended the University of Florida and UCLA. His father, Frank Kay and his mother, Mimi Kay Elpern and half sister, Eleanore Schmitt, predeceased Tom.
Tom is survived by his sister, Susan (David Baron) Kay of Skokie, IL, his nephews, Jacob (Sam Marrell) Baron of New York, and Zachary Baron of San Diego. Additional surviving relatives are step-sister, Gail (Sheldon) York of Las Vegas and nephew Steven York and his family; brother-in-law, Robert Schmitt of Jacksonville Beach, FL, and nephew, Philip Schmitt; many cousins in the Chicago area plus other family in Israel, Florida, Texas and Atlanta, Ga., and his friend and companion, Wanda Sirmones.
Professionally, Tom was a business entrepreneur in the travel and direct mail market industry and phenomenal at sales, including the sale of one of his companies to Amoco (now BP). He was the Founder of the International Travel Club and Founder and President of Controlled Programs, Inc. in Jacksonville, Florida. He volunteered for SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives). Tom loved all things related to business.
Tom was an avid sports enthusiast, particularly with water sports. He loved the outdoors. He had a passion for sailing his boat, “Man’s Work.” He also loved kayaking, biking, sailing his Hobie cat, and flying in his powered paraglider. He was great at and enjoyed playing pool with his nephews, Jacob and Zak. Travel was another love of Tom’s and counted Sydney, Australia, as one of his favorite places. His favorite vacations were piloting a sailboat in the British Virgin Islands or relaxing in St. Thomas.
A Memorial Service for Tom will be held in Wilmette, IL on December 9, 2016. There will be a Memorial Service in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Notification will be sent at a later date. Donations, in Tom’s memory should be directed to Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, 4266 Sunbeam Rd. Jacksonville, FL 32257. Arrangements are the direction of Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, Jacksonville Beach.