Douglas Kinney

Douglas McBryde Kinney, 92, known to many as "Growlie", died peacefully at home in Lake Forest, Illinois on June 16th, 2023. Born May 10, 1931 to Ansel and Elinor (Woodward) Kinney, Doug graduated from Groton School '48, Harvard College '52, and served in the Korean War as a lieutenant in the US Navy. He then graduated from Harvard Business School '56 where he was a Baker Scholar. He returned to Chicago to work for the family company, Intermatic. Doug led the company for 53 years. The company has now been owned by the family for 132 years. In 1974, Doug founded Palmer Capital Corporation, a company focused on renewable energy. Palmer started the first landfill gas-to-electric project in the country, and has since completed over $2.65 billion in energy financing. He also served on the board of Trek Bicycle since its founding in 1976. After his 70th birthday, Doug put his efforts into backing promising research into causes and possible cures for progressive neurodegenerative brain diseases. With two like-minded friends, Doug laid the groundwork for the Brain Chemistry Labs, a not - for - profit research institute in Jackson, WY. Following Florida's devastating outbreak of Red Tide and Blue Green Algae in 1991, he created the Clean Okeechobee Waters Foundation. The organization is dedicated to increasing awareness of the health risks of exposure to harmful algae blooms. Doug also devoted time to the National Tropical Botanical Garden located in Hawaii and Florida, acting as Chairman for 13 years. The Hawaiian garden is situated on land once owned by his family, the McBrydes. He was instrumental through his generosity and leadership in establishing endowments for scientific research, as well as the dedication of the McBryde Garden. He worked to establish the Garden's Breadfruit Institute, created to advance the impact of breadfruit and its use to nourish the tropical world. He is survived by his wife Elizabeth (Hummel) Kinney, children Ansel D. Kinney, Douglas M. Kinney, Jr. (Kimberly), Elisabeth S.K. Robinson, Martha K. Perry, and Hilary S. Kinney, stepchildren Elizabeth E. Smyth and John E. Smyth (Jenifer) and sisters Barbara K. Sweet (late Cyrus B, III) and Joan K. Seppala (Lynn). He was especially proud of his grandchildren Samuel C. Kinney, Elizabeth S. Kinney, Douglas M. Kinney III (Allison), Alexandra K. McBride (Jack), Marta R. Day (Scott), Eli J. Robinson, Duncan M. Robinson, Alexander M. Perry, Lucas M. Perry, Lyda E. Hanson, Spencer S. Hanson, Wyatt M. Hanson, Lily E. Smyth, Alexander W. Smyth, and great-granddaughters Gemma S. Day and Georgia A. McBride.