Kenneth Brian Culbert died on Oct. 18, 2023 in Port Charlotte, Florida.

Born in Weybridge, England to a French mother, Solange DeBayser, and an American father, Fredric Paul Culbert, Ken lived an international and adventurous life.

After graduating from Harvard in 1955, Ken spent two years in the Navy before earning his MBA at Darden, the University of Virginia business school. Although he thoroughly enjoyed his experiences working in multinational companies in Venezuela and Brazil for ten years, becoming fluent Spanish and Portuguese, he eventually returned to his true passions: sailing and the sea

His career as the owner/operator of his charter business lasted 40 years. This was primarily aboard Mystique with Kate as his indispensable first mate. Initially he sailed in the US and British Virgin Islands but as clients returned time and time again; and with the invaluable assistance of first mate and chef Kate, they sailed throughout the Caribbean.

Although Ken traveled extensively and lived abroad much of his life, he always returned to Boothbay Harbor. Selling the family home in Linekin Bay prompted him to build a house himself on West Harbor Pond. Those who visited over the years know how wonderfully this home reflected who Ken was, and how special memories made there will continue to be. The location was chosen in part by its proximity to the Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club where he was an active member; racing his boats and those of others, serving as co-chair on the Sailing and Racing Committee and volunteering for the yearly regattas and other events. As a member of the Down East Yacht Club, Ken particularly enjoyed the cruises. He was a beloved and familiar face at the club across generations of sailors, and seized every opportunity to share his fascination with all things nautical with others.

Ken, an avid reader in spite of his dyslexia, maintained a curiosity and lust for life that inspired not only his immediate family but countless others. His determination to understand our ever-changing world and his exceptional ability to connect with people from any walk of life are rare gifts which he nurtured every day until his passing. His creativity extended beyond building his own house; he was an adept handyman, a storytelling pirate, a lifelong backgammon player, an amateur but loving painter of birthday cards, and an accomplished carver of totem poles. The last project he completed with help from Kate was a lighthouse in red and white.

Ken is survived by his wife, Katherine Hinrichs; daughter Laura Knowles-Cutler; grandchildren Charlotte Magdalene and Elise Knowles-Cutler; his brother, Alan Culbert; and numerous nieces and nephews who knew him as Uncle Kiki.

The family will host a celebration of life to remember Ken in Boothbay Harbor in summer 2024.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Boothbay Region Land Trust, a charity he valued and supported. We will remember him strolling through their idyllic meadows and shady woods, sharing his stories and holding our hands tightly.