EVERETT — Mayor Pete Kinch, who ran the city from 1990 to 1994, spent a lifetime as a public servant, businessman and community volunteer.
Kinch died Aug. 18 at age 80.
He was a commercial photographer by trade working and living in Everett. Soon after leaving elected office, he spent 22 years as the executive director of the Hands for Peacemaking Foundation. The international charity organizes humanitarian trips to the mountainous region of the town of Barillas, Guatemala to aid the poorest of the world’s poor. Dr. Leeon Aller and wife Virginia began the nonprofit in 1985.
Kinch simply loved people, his friends said.
Steve Chittenden knew Kinch for 43 years and is one of the many, many people Kinch mentored.
Kinch bounded with energy to serve, Chittenden said.
“Pete never quit, he never quit,” Chittenden said. “It was an amazing trait he had. He faced adversity with class and style.”
Jeff Hager succeeded Kinch as Hands for Peacemaking’s director, and also was his neighbor for about 25 years. He said passing by Harborview Park will always let Hager remember the good times and great conversations they had.
Kinch came to Everett in 1966. He was elected to a term on council from 1972 to 1976.
Early on, Kinch was active in helping change Everett’s form of government from a three-commissioner system to an executive mayor and City Council system, he told the Tribune in 2012. The charter change happened in 1968.
Kinch ran for mayor in 1989 to succeed Bill Moore. He scooped City Council President Connie Niva by about 250 votes. It was his second try for mayor. Four years later, he got thrashed by Ed Hansen in the 1993 mayoral election.
He was heavily involved with the Everett-Port Gardner Rotary chapter and one of its founding members.
Kinch’s obituary says his celebration of life will be Sept. 30 at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Everett.
Mayor Cassie Franklin will also issue a proclamation honoring Kinch, the city said.
