Scott Robinson Kempton

Scott Robinson Kempton, 60, of Stamford, CT and Kirmess Island in Clayton, NY, passed away unexpectedly from a brain incident in Stamford on October 18, 2023.

Scott leaves behind his beloved wife Kim, his daughters Julia and Lucia, and an empty seat at any great dinner party. If he had not made you laugh so hard you nearly cried, you must not have met him, and for that alone we are truly sorry.

Scott was born on Christmas Day, 1962 in Manlius, New York after his mother went into labor while skiing. Some of his favorite times were racing his own daughters down the hill at Snow Ridge. He graduated from Syracuse University, where he studied Economics and was a proud member of the SU Crew team. He met the love of his life, Kim, at a Syracuse basketball game in Madison Square Garden and they loved intensely and completely for 30+ years. Scott was a Managing Director and Portfolio Manager at TIAA/Nuveen, where he worked for 37 years. He often said that he was so devoted to his job that he would work for seven years after he was dead. That remains to be seen.

Scott loved the great outdoors and was happiest when shooting, fishing, golfing or skiing the steeps with Kim, his girls or those he called his “brothers”. Scott traveled the world, was a go-to gear expert and a connoisseur of life. He called friends on their birthday and was ready with an answer to any question. He loved the Yankees, Syracuse Orange, Anthony Bourdain, and the “John Wick” series. He could and would cook anything, from elaborate French dishes to Szechuanese hot pot to sashimi omakase feasts. He believed in the value of good libations and a good cigar, and of the importance of small acts of kindness. He raised his daughters to appreciate this world’s great diversity and experiences, to be passionate and to pour their everything into anything they do.

Scott loved making others laugh, telling elaborate stories, traveling, entertaining and sitting in an Adirondack chair throwing the ball for his Labrador, Moose. He offered boundless love and kindness to everyone he met. He was often larger than life.

Scott was predeceased by his parents, Lucius and Jeanne Paczkowski Kempton. He is survived by his beloved wife of 25 years, Kimberly Weitzel-Kempton (of Stamford, CT and Clayton, NY) and his two daughters, Julia (formerly of New York, currently of Tajikistan), and Lucia (of Boston, and recently of Greece). He is also survived by his sister Shelly Kempton (Cazenovia, NY), in-laws Rev. Dr. Harvey and Janice Weitzel (Norwalk, CT), his sister-in-law Christine Weitzel-Dusek (New Canaan, CT), and nieces, nephews and cousins.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to Ducks Unlimited, or the Educational Programs of Thousand Islands Land Trust. A celebration of life will be held next summer in the 1000 Islands, his (and our) happy place.