Machias town manager remembered for being a 'connector of people'

Bill Kitchen, the Machias town manager and a tireless promoter of the Downeast community, was remembered by businesspeople there as a "convenor" who was "action-oriented."

He was also known for his colorful wardrobe and the ever-present sunglasses he wore atop his head.

Photo / Courtesy, Town of Machias

Bill Kitchen, town manager of Machias, died Sept. 9.

Kitchen, 65, who had also served as a selectman and volunteer firefighter, died suddenly on Sept. 9.

To honor his passing, town offices were closed the following day and a community gathering was held Sept. 14 at the Machias Memorial High School gymnasium.

Following the memorial, there was a parade, led by first responders, with the route passing "some of Bill's favorite places in town," according to the town's Facebook page.

This week, Mainebiz asked some of the businesspeople who knew and worked with Kitchen to reflect on his passing.

From Charles J. Rudelitch, executive director of the Sunrise County Economic Council, which is based in downtown Machias:

"Bill is going to be missed. He could see the potential for growth and investment in coastal Washington County and worked tirelessly to realize it. He was one of the best salesmen for our region that we have ever had."

Rhiannon Hampson, Maine director of USDA Rural Development and a graduate of the University of Maine at Machias, was on the road yesterday but sent these thoughts:

“Part of Bill’s vision was to focus on building a livable community by recruiting and supporting businesses to fulfill year-round needs — and there are new businesses there for the first time in a long time.

"One of the things he did very well was attracting new businesses to town that met community needs and created a destination feel for the community. He encouraged people to stop in town rather than just passing through and took care of infrastructure needs to make that possible. For example, he negotiated relocating a power transfer station in Machias to create more parking at the waterfront for concerts and other events.

“Bill had been honing his skills for years. In some of his past roles he’d been a convener, in other roles he was the visionary, and in others he was action oriented. Machias was his opus — it gave him a chance to pull his skills together in a symphonic way to make magic happen.

"He chose to live in Machias and stay there because of how wonderful it was, and he chose to highlight that and give it a chance to thrive without ever disparaging. That helps people want to join your team and come along with you. His message to the community was, ‘You are great, and I want to tell the story of that and add to that story.’ That was part of the magic.

“Last summer I was staying overnight in Machias for work. I went into town for an errand and realized that there was a concert happening in Bad Little Falls Park, so I found a parking space and went over. The park was teeming with people. Bill was there, walking around hugging everyone, shaking hands, greeting people.

"He took so much joy in seeing everyone being so happy and seeing something so cool happening at Bad Little Falls Park. I can still picture his purple shirt and the joy and pride on his face, and hope to hold that image for a long time.”

Larry Barker, president and CEO, Machias Savings Bank:

"To put Bill’s impact on me, Machias Savings Bank, and the town of Machias into a couple of paragraphs is a tall order. I knew him personally as a friend and professionally on multiple fronts.

"Professionally, Bill worked for Machias Savings Bank as a marketing consultant and writer for a number of years. His passion for our bank and our community impact was tremendous. He was a true business strategist, a socially minded entrepreneur, and a champion of progress. In his volunteer and official town capacities, he was in my office or meeting me for lunch often, always advocating for change, everything from airport infrastructure to community town parks.

"He even had opinions about the architectural design of our operational center, built in 2020, knowing that this space was part of the grand plan for a thriving downtown Machias. He knew we were better together and that everyone played a role in our community ecosystem.

"Beyond that, he was a friend to everyone he came in contact with, myself included. He listened intently and learned everything he could. Our employees loved to see him coming with his gregarious and eccentric personality, hug included. Bill’s influence, vision and marketing wisdom helped our business grow and prosper.

"If there is one thing I took from him personally, it was his advocacy of changing mindsets to collaborate and embrace progress.

"My favorite business memory of Bill was his work with us on our application to the town of Machias for our expanded footprint. He was a brilliant public relations specialist and connector of people. His career was business but his passion was people, everyone included.

"I’ve known a small handful of people over the course of my life that would leave you feeling energized following just about any interaction with them — Bill Kitchen was one of those people.

"On many occasions I would see him in a small picnic area we have that abuts Route 1 and the Machias River. Bill was there because he noticed a tourist eating lunch and stopped to share his tremendous pride for our community and learn about them.

"Even without Bill’s physical presence here, his vision is encapsulated in the many walkways, parks, and personalities he shaped. We will strive to carry his legacy forward and as he said, Make Here Better, as a result of his influence. Bill Kitchen really did Make Here Better! "

Author's note: In July 2022, Mainebiz held an "On the Road" stop in Machias that included a networking event and, before that, a small roundtable gathering with area business and town leaders, including Bill Kitchen and Larry Barker.

Bill led much of the conversation but also listened intently to concerns expressed by some of the business leaders. Afterwards, we had a great talk about how he got to Maine — his family's background in the publishing business in New York and his own efforts to go his own direction. I ran into him again at the Maine Space Conference last fall. He was an energetic and unforgettable advocate for Machias.