KENNETH ALBERT BRITTINGHAM
June 12, 1926 –April 12, 2011
Brittingham, Kenneth A. patriarch of the Brittingham family, died peacefully with his family by his side,
Tuesday, April 12, 2011. He was a resident of Newport Beach for forty-nine years.
Ken was born in Los Angeles, the beloved son of Dorothy and Albert Brittingham, and the brother of the late Albert Brittingham, Jr. and Dorothy Brittingham Koll. He was the grandson of American Industrialist in Mexico, Juan F. Brittingham, a founder of Cementos Mexicanos (CEMEX).
Ken grew up in Beverly Hills, and attended Beverly Hills High School where he was All Bay League End and Co-Captain of the Varsity Football Team. A proud patriot, he was a member of the United States Navy in 1945-1946. After the war he attended the University of California Berkeley on the GI Bill. He was a member of the Psi Upsilon Fraternity, the Skull and Keys Society, Tri-Une Honor Society, Winged Helmut Junior Society and a Rugby Club member. He was a Lifetime member of California Alumni Association. In addition he was a member of the National Society Children of the American Revolution, Member General Society War of 1812, and a Board member of the Lido Isle Community Association 1965-66. Ken was President of Newport Harbor High Football Boosters in 1966 and ’67 and continued to attend nearly every Harbor High football game for the rest of his life.
Ken married his college sweetheart, Betty Lambert, on June 20, 1949 and was happily married for fifty-two years until her death in 2002. In 2003 he married the second love of his life, Edie Olson.
Ken was Vice President and Manager of the Catering Division of Brittingham Commissary, Inc in Los Angeles from 1950 to 1963, specializing in catering to the motion picture industry, conventions, and special events. After moving his family to Newport Beach in 1962, he began his second career as a successful residential real estate salesman and broker specializing in Lido Isle and bay front properties, retiring in 1998.
Ken will be remembered as an honorable man of character, a devout Catholic with conservative values who loved his family, his country, travel, fine dining and football.
Ken was preceded in death by his wife, Betty, and his son, Kenneth Albert, Jr. He is survived by his wife, Edie, and his three children, John Brittingham (Kathy) of North Tustin, Debby Jones (Jesse) of Newport Beach, and Lori Viole’ (Tim) of Pacific Palisades. He is also survived by his nine grandchildren, John Brittingham (Rachael), Bob Brittingham (Emanuela), Kristi Brittingham, Mike Brittingham, Erin Woody (Dillan), Lauren O’Leary, Nicole Viole’, Timothy “Britt” Viole’ and Taryn Viole’, his step-children, Cameron (Alan) Popkin of Studio City and Earl Beadle of Altadena, step-grandchildren Taryn and Liane Popkin and Merris Beadle, and his cousins Tad Brittingham (Sara), Jean McCormick, Joy Snell (Art) and a large extended family throughout California and Texas.
A funeral Mass will be held Friday, April 29 at 11:00am at Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church,
2046 Mar Vista Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be mailed to:
Newport Harbor High School Football Boosters 600 Irvine Ave., Newport Beach, CA 92663 or
Our Lady Queen of Angels Church 2046 Mar Vista Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660
(will benefit the church Cornerstone Campaign building fund)
Please write “Memory of Ken Brittingham” in the Memo.
