He had a traditional English schooling and went to trade school to become an instrument maker. He served in the British Royal Navy as a Petty Officer during World War II and survived the German Blitzkrieg on London. Of all the stories he told over the years, the ones of the Blitz were perhaps the most vivid.

Kevin came to the United States on February 18, 1948 on his own. He arrived in New York, enjoying as his first sight the Statue of Liberty as many other Americans have. He spent a short time in New York and managed to make it to Baltimore before he fell to the temptations of becoming a Yankee fan. He became a U.S. citizen on June 14, 1952.

In Baltimore he found a job at Johns Hopkins Hospital, utilizing his skills as instrument maker. His first job was as a surgical instrument maker with a man whom he respected deeply, Pop Upfeld. When the surgeons had a need for something special in the operating room they turned to Pop's shop. Hopkins is also where Kevin met Anne who was a nurse at Hopkins. Anne and Kevin married on July 31, 1954 in Baltimore, Maryland. It is reputed that is was the hottest day in Baltimore in many years.

Kevin switched jobs to the Department of Neurosurgery at Baltimore City Hospital to work with another great man in his life, Arthur Boulware. A couple of years later, Anne gave birth to Mark Warren on January 14, 1956. Kevin and Anne had so much fun with Mark, they dove in again and gave birth to Craig Charles on September 22, 1957. After many second thoughts, Kevin Mason was born on January 21, 1963. That was the end for having kids but just a new beginning for a long and prosperous life.

Kevin continued to work for City Hospital in G Building in the Department of Neurosurgery as the family got older. We all recall fondly trips to Ocean City, Frontier Town, West River, Caledonia, The Smoky Mountains, Gettysburg, Antietam, Fort McHenry, Niagra Falls, etc. As Craig and Mark came of age, Kevin got very involved in The Boy Scouts of America. He helped see many young boys through their merit badges for photography and astronomy, and accompanied Mark and Craig on countless trips to Broad Creek and Camp Straus. Some shining moments in his scouting life were seeing Mark and Craig tackle Philmont (New Mexico) and both of them achieving the proud rank of Eagle Scout. He showed the world he could take a picture, decorate a cake, and carve anything out of wood.

Kevin held his breath through the Summer of Love, The Miracle Mets, Joe Namath and Winston Churchill's death. When he came up for air, he started his involvement with the 71st Regiment of Foote, Fraser's Highlanders and St. Andrew's Society of Baltimore. He picked up Mark from West Virginia, dropped of Craig in Logan, and said goodbye to Kev at Blacksburg. He built stools, desks, tables, and shelves to see us through all of the changes.

Fulfilling an important lifetime goal of providing his children with an education, Kevin saw a child earn his Ph.D., another earn an engineering degree, and yet another work side by side with him. Kevin also went toe-to-toe with two diseases of hypertension and won. In the process, he switched jobs from neurological research to clinical neurology and moved from G Building to B Building South with Dr.'s Merin and Bleecker. His work relationship with Dr. Bleecker would be his last but would continue until his very end.

As it all started to wind down, Kevin saw his grandchildren come into the world, officially retired from working (but never gave in), and spent alot of time with Anne getting into quilting and geneology.

Through it all we experienced devotion, loyalty, patriotism, creativity, determination, and love. There wasn't anything he couldn't make with his hands and there wasn't anything he couldn't teach himself. Please join us in celebrating Kevin's life by conquering something new, loving your family and honoring your country.