Kenneth Shepardson

AUSTIN, TEXAS - Kenneth Bruce Shepardson, 70, passed away on October 5, 2018 at his residence in Austin, Texas.

Ken was born in Winchendon, Massachusetts on November 24, 1947, the first son of his dear parents, Theodore and Myra Shepardson. He grew up in Braintree, Massachusetts, after a formative childhood in Karachi, Pakistan. His family moved to Dallas Texas in 1964, and so Ken graduated from Kimball High School in Dallas, in 1965. Despite the move to Texas, Ken is warmly remembered by many friends in Braintree as the first manager of the Braintree High soccer team and as an inquisitive and friendly member of the Latin Club and the National Honor Society.

Ken graduated from Tufts University in 1969 and went on to earn a law degree from the University of Texas, in Austin. For the next 15 years, Ken worked as an attorney in both Washington D.C., and Austin, Texas. He grew tired of the legal profession and became an elementary school teacher where he endeared himself to many young students with his pleasant personality and magnetic style of teaching. Always restless and looking for a way in which to apply his sharp skills in the written language and to help others, Ken went on to become a textbook editor for Holt, Rinehart and Winston for almost 10 years. In semi-retirement, Ken was an active member of the Long Theatre Center in Austin, Texas, until his passing.

Ken will be remembered by his friends and family for his compassion, wit, zest for learning and student mentorship. He is survived by his sister, Beverly Shepardson Martinez (of Dallas), and his brothers Doug (Winnie), of Sugar Land, Texas, Steve (,Meri), of Austin, Texas and Russ (Carol) of Como, Colorado. A private celebration of Ken’s life will be held by family members in the near future.

Funeral arrangements are being conducted by All Faiths Funeral Services, 4360 S. Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78745.

Memorial donations may be made to the Long center in Austin. To make a donation please call Jessica Niemiec, Development Manager at 512-457-5111 or email her at jniemiec@thelongcenter.org. Donations can also be sent to her attention at 701 W. Riverside Drive, Austin TX 78704