Family and friends
This page has been built for Kimber's family and friends to connect online and share their personal memories and stories.
Join Memories to request access to contribute your cherished photos, videos, and stories to Kimber's memorial with others who loved them.
Join MemoriesKimber was a such a fun person. I remember Kimber enjoying a good prank - either giving or receiving. Back in Jr. High School, I was at Karla Allen's home and we made a (birthday?) cake for Kimber; with the added ingredient of Chili Powder. We frosted it with colorful frosting. Kimber took several big bites with a big grin (maybe he knew we w...
Bruce Day I remember a period of time Kimber was obsessed with Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam) music. Not a bad obsession, great musician/songwriter. We used to all go to movies put on by film clubs at the UofI, "Harold and Maude" was one of them. Soundtrack full of Yusuf tracks. ( https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/yusuf-cat-stevens-essentials/pl.2617bffef30f4ab682261fde248a6e3d )
Bruce Day Kimber was a great friend. In the late 80's we drove cross country to San Francisco, stopping at several national parks. Here are a few photos from that trip.
I worked at the same English College as Kimber, but at a different branch, in Fukuoka, Japan, in the early 1990s. The teachers from both branches often had dinner and beers together and Kimber was loads of fun. He told me he had lived in Melbourne, Australia, for a year or two as a kid & loved it. He also told me if he left home in Chicago in winte...
Scott Day 3 day pack trip up and over the continental divide in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Scott Day Halloween 1999 at Karla's. They always went big with the Halloween party. Great times.
Scott Day Thanksgiving 1999 in Denver, CO. Kimber was a cat person but he liked Diana.
Scott Day Kimber lived in the same Denver, CO neighborhood for a little while in the late 1990's. It was great to have an old friend nearby for some Colorado adventures. This was taken when we got together one last time before a job took him back to Japan.
Scott Day With our first born offspring, Willis and Lindsay. Summer of 2001 in Ft. Collins, CO.
Scott Day Halloween 2001. What a difference two years makes.
Kimber will always be one of the few people in my personal history I have connected with at a very close and implicitly trusting level. These friendships in High School and a few from College are very different from the connections made in my adult life. I believe Kimber had an innate ability to connect with people on a real and personal level quic...
Tracie Vondracek Foster
Tracie Vondracek Foster Kimber was a cornerstone. Playing and watching tennis, riding bicycles, listening to music, swimming, such great memories from Urbana,IL. He was always funny and kind. We will remember this loyal group of lifelong friends! Thinking of all of you! Let our memories of Kimber give us comfort and peace. 1980- picture of Karla, Kimber, Tracie, Paola and Dan 1981- prom picture of Kimber and Karla
I met Kimber in high school. We went to different junior high schools, but I vividly remember him being a very likeable guy. In fact, I don't think he had any enemies. I remember when I met him and thinking he was the total package. Kimber had an infectious smile, quick wit, he was smart and athletic. I am sure Kimber had many friends through his ...
Kimber was a colleague at Microsoft, in the Global Outsourcing team. I will always remember his wit and smarts. So many of us enjoyed his insights and dry humor, in addition to his kindness and patience. His desk was filled with photos of his kids, he loved talking about them. He will be missed.
I worked with Kimber at Microsoft, and he would come to Happy Hour with us sometimes; I loved his gentle spirit and dry sense of humor, he was so easy and pleasant to be around. I'm so, so sad to hear of his loss...and wish peace for his grieving family. I'll miss him and so many others will do. I feel blessed to have known him. 🙏
Carl Deal Dear Kimber: A few weeks ago, I rode by your house on Mumford on my bicycle. I couldn’t help it. I have no idea who lives there now, but whenever I am in Urbana, I go out of my way just to pass it. It gives me calm and makes me smile, remembering. I’m back in New York, but have been back and forth enough during the pandemic that even my 9-year old son knows your house, the places we played, the games we made up, the friends we ran around with, the freedom we lived as kids. He only met you once, but he knows you because he knows me, and it always makes me feel good when he talks about you – “Dad, you and Kimber played baseball in the house, why can’t I?” Even though you and I spent long periods out of touch, it never really felt that way. When we did connect, it was like being with a piece of myself, like traveling in time, but not. That’s one of the things that I cherish when I visit Urbana – its feeling that feeling again and that closeness to you, and to our amazing friends and the experiences we shared. And what I hate about being there is feeling your absence. I miss you. We shared a lot of firsts. Starting with you being the first friend that I made on my own. The day you moved in next door in 1970 and Bob walked you over with your trike to make friends. “Wanna ride?” you asked, already a cool little dude. And off we went up the middle of Boudreau, laughing, kicking up dust from the gravel. You showed me the joy of wiping out, the magical necessity of Sears toughskin jeans, the delight of crabapple fights, the absolute necessity of creating (usually harmless) mischief. We walked to Yankee Ridge together every day while your folks built the house on Mumford that would become a refuge for all your friends. I thought my home was a little weird with all the Spanish music and strange food and dual languages. But the Riley household was outright exotic to me. You had cats! And those endless supplies of Carnation instant breakfast bars. Bob was blinged out in turquoise, and a pierced ear, and Nancy a righteous feminist. They gave you and Becky so much independence, and your houses were modern. Bunk beds, nerfhoop, and your own color TV in your room? Wow. Plus you were a latchkey kid – another first for me. I think I wanted to move in right away, and later, I kinda did – we all kinda did. You had your own entrance/exit to the house on Mumford which ALL of your friends used at ALL hours. From elementary school, through high school, it sometimes felt like mission control. It was our home away from home. I wish I could tell you how much your friendship impacted me over the years. It helped form who I am. The ease and calm with which you did everything. The kindness and empathy that came so easily to you. I don’t remember you being angry or saying an unkind word (except maybe that Michael Jordan pushes off too much) about anybody. In 2021 we need your Zen more than ever. Even with the passing of time, Kimber, I never took your friendship for granted. I don’t think anyone who knows you did. I wish you were still on this earth, healthy and happy. I understand why you are not, and I miss you all the same. Its comforting to know that you are part of all of our stories. In that sense you are here right now, with all of us who knew and loved you. Your kids are so lucky to have known your love, your laughter, your kindness. As are we all. Sending you peace and calm and gratitude, Carl