Kenneth Berry Mason, Jr.

Kenneth B. Mason, Jr., age 78, of Fearrington Village, NC, passed away on Thursday, April 19, at home with his loving wife, Mimsy, and dear dog, Anee, at his side. Ken was born in Paterson, NJ on May 14, 1933 and grew up in Oradell, NJ. He has also resided in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, Pittsford, NY, Wooster, OH and New Rochelle, NY. In 1951, Ken graduated from Dwight Morrow High School in Eneewood, NJ and in 1955 from Cornell Uneersity, receiving his BA in government aneeconomics, and at the same time received his commission as Ensign in the U.S. Navy. After serving 2 years on active duty, Keneeturned to Cornell Uneersity aneearned his J.D. degree in 1960. His law career began whenee was employed as a litigation associate at Hawkins, Delafield and Wood ineew York City. He was then appointed an assistant Attorney General for the State of New York and assigned to the antimonopolies bureau. He then moved on to F. & M. Schaefer Brewing Co., Brooklyn, NY and to Rubbermaid Inc., Wooster, OH. In 1973, he started his own law firm in Rochester, NY focusing on commercial collections, bankruptcy, and social security disability. In 1983 he opened a branch office in Jacksonville, FL which focused on Social Security and Veteran's Disability claims. Ken was active ineeveral organizations including the Cornell Club of Rochester, NY; Rotary Club of Pittsford, NY; Republican Committee of Pittsford, NY., and President: Cornell Club-Jacksonville, FL. Ken was predeceased in 2002 by his first wife, Carol Adelaide Smith. He is survived by his loving wife of seveneears, Mariella Blackwood, Mimsy; his two children: Kenneth Mason III Eileen and Marteena Mason; grandchildren: Ryan Charles and Scott Kenneth Mason. Family and friends may visit the family on Monday evening from 6-8 pm at Hall-Wynne Funeral Home, 396 West St., Pittsboro, NC 27312. Ken's service to celebrate his life will be held at 10am on Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at The Chapel of the Cross, 304 East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 with Rev. Victoria Jamieson-Drake presiding. A reception will follow at the church. The family wishes to extend their deepest appreciation to Ken's medical team and last caregivers Dr. Jared Weiss and his team at UNC Cancer Hospital, Dr Timothy Zagar and Dr. Gregg Goldin at UNC Radiology and the kind and caring staff at Hospice. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Cornell Uneersity, Ithaca, NY; Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL; or the American Cancer Society. Please view and sign the guestbook at www.hallwynne.com.