Kendall Price Hatch, age 85, passed away peacefully Friday, June 4, 2021, at home surrounded by his loving family.
Born September 5, 1935, Kendall was raised in Salt Lake City, attending Granite High School. He joined the United States Marine Corps and honorably served his country and was forever Semper Fi. He then served a three-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Australia, which included playing basketball for the “Mormon Yankees,” and later attended the University of Utah and earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Utah Law School.
Kendall married Marva Rae Goring August 11, 1960 in the Salt Lake Temple while attending school. Together they raised four children who he loved unconditionally. Rarely was there a little league, high school or college game where he wasn't found cheering in the stands. Kendall represented character and work ethic starting as a nine-year old paperboy in downtown Salt Lake and ending as a law professional. He was the manager of USF&G Insurance for 22 years and ended his career as a partner for the Salt Lake law firm of Dunn & Dunn before retiring at age 70. He was president of the Utah Historical Society and loved traveling the world studying history.
Kendall was an avid outdoorsman, a lifelong golfer, hunter and fisherman. He loved all things outdoors, and especially loved cooking breakfast for his family in Millcreek Canyon and on the family annual deer hunt. He was a dedicated Utah Jazz fan and ALL sports from the University of Utah. He taught all his kids to love golf and created countless memories and life lessons that live on each time they tee it up today. He loved Christmas more than anything and was incapable of not opening presents first thing in the morning. He was always generous and willing to share what he had with anyone in need. Kendall was an instrumental leader in the Salt Lake AA organization and inspired thousands of people to live a life free from addiction.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years Marva Rae Goring, sons Mark (Teresa) and Michael, daughter Allison Nielsen (Tod), daughter-in-law Andrea, 18 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Samuel and Margaret Hatch, his four siblings, and his beloved son Robert.
In lieu of flowers, donations are welcome at VA Salt Lake City Healthcare System (www.saltlakecity.va.gov/giving/index.asp) and the Salt Lake chapter of AA (www.saltlakeaa.org).
The family would like to thank the compassionate staff at Ashford Assisted Living of Draper, his amazing physical therapist Jamieson Stuart, the kind hospice staff of Active Home Health, and his dedicated and loyal medical team at the VA, Leigh Anne, Angela and Amy, for making his last years so comfortable and filled with love and happiness.
A service will be held on Wednesday, June 9th at 2:00pm at Larkin Mortuary, 1950 East Dimple Dell Road (10600 South), Sandy, Utah. Friends and family may call beginning at 12:30 pm. Social distancing is appreciated. Others may join with this Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83536827791, beginning at 2:00pm. Interment will be at Larkin Cemetery immediately following.
Thank you for letting us know about Kendall. We have miss you two. Take care of your self marvelous Marva. Love to you and your family.
Dear Marva and family,
We are saddened to hear of Kendall's passing. We hope that your last moments together were filled with love and celebration of his life. May you take the time needed to grieve and find peace as you ponder and cherish the memories made together.
Love,
Jared and Wendy
Please accept my condolences. Uncle Kendall was a very special man.
Sweet Marva
We were all so sorry to hear about Kendall’s passing. It is never easy to lose someone you love especially when it is your spouse. Our hearts and prayers go out to you and your family. You were both such dear friends to mom and dad and they so valued your friendship. I know she would be embarrassing you with hugs if she were here. I too have fond memories of Kendall during my USF&G days. He was a good man. May heavens blessings of comfort and peace be with you in the coming days!
💜 Debbie (Russell) Beck
Dear Marva and Family - so sorry to hear of Kendall’s passing, but know he is at peace and with loved ones. You are all in our prayers. My God fill you with love, peace and comfort. I have so many fond childhood memories of Kendall and still have the cherished “old timer” pocket knife he gave me as a gift for getting my Eagle Scout - I think of him every time I use it (usually fishing!). RIP great man!. - with love, Mark Baird
Marva, I am so sorry to find out about Kendall. He was a very nice man, I remember seeing his eyes light up when you came into the room.
I am sending you love and prayers.
Love, Susan A.
So sorry to hear about Kendall. He was a great guy and always a pleasure to be around. He will be missed by all.
Marva and family, I just received this sad news on Monday night from Bob Rehm. What a shock? We are so sorry to hear this news. Kendall was like a brother to me. Although I knew he was failing, it is still hard when the time comes. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. We love you you all.
Roger and Suzy Baird
Dear Marva Rae and Hatch Family,
Sorry I wasn't able to attend the funeral, but I just wanted to send sympathy and condolences. It's been a long time since I've seen you all, and I know my dad (John Geigle) would want us to send thoughts and love from the family. Our hearts are with you and we're praying for peace and comfort for your family at this time. God bless!
Love,
Jolyn, Jeff, Tony, Tom, and Ben Geigle
I am sorry to hear about Kendall. I always trusted his advice and direction.
Vaya Con Dios Mi amigo.
We send our love and condolences to Marva and her children. Kendall and Marva were such a big presence in our professional, and later, our social lives. The fun times spent on the golf course - oh, the stories, attending social events in their backyard, conventions, dinners and brunches with the Blue Goose and the conversations - Kendall always had a way of leaving a positive & uplifting impression. God bless.
Kendall was a amazing man. He inspired my own recovery. What a great model of recovery. So sorry to hear of his passing. May God comfort the family.
Mr. Hatch was one of those people I always loved to see. In addition to wisdom, he had a kindness and patience that was unmatched. I am saddened to hear of his passing but celebrate all the positive he brought to the world. His influence was undeniable and so appreciated.
To Mark, Michael and family - I wish you peace and comfort. Thank you for the love and kindness your family embodies.
So sorry to hear of Kendal's passing. Feel bad that I hadn't checked in more as when I last talked to you he was not doing well. Kendal has always been high on the list of those I admire. I have always looked up to him and he was one of my favorite cousins. He was always so cheerful and full of love and hugs and also so full of life. He had a great personality and it was a special time when he was in our mist. He will be missed very much by so many. He was certainly a great addition to our country, family and to anyone who knew him. Our prayers are with you as you adjust to your loss of someone so special.
Lovingly, his cousin - RaLene
I hope Kendall's family will see my heartfelt tribute to Kendall.
My name's Larry and I'm an alcoholic.
In August 1992, when I started attending meetings in a desperate attempt to get one day of sobriety, I sat right in back of Kendall at the Wednesday night Foothill meeting. Almost 29 years later, I can still quote what he shared. I have told the story many times--including several when Kendall was in the room--and I have always said that these were the magic words--the final piece of the puzzle I needed to get that precious one day. He said: "Alcoholism is not about how much we drank, or when we drank, or why we drank." And that really caught my attention, because that was exactly the debate I had spent my entire adult life winning. He said, no. "Alcoholism is about the negative impact of our drinking on our judgment, our emotions and our relationships."
Every light in my brain went on. I thought, I have spent decades doing the best I could do to cope with the negative impact of my drinking on: my judgment, my emotions and my relationships. My next thought was: there is not a shred of evidence to make me believe I can do better with that in the future than I have in the past. And so my choice suddenly became very clear and straightforward: I can either keep doing what I've been doing until it destroys me; or I can stay in A.A. and learn how to stay sober one day at a time.
That was when I got my first day of sobriety--and remains my one and only sobriety date. August 8, 1992. A direct result of what I heard Kendall share.
When I was almost exactly six months sober, some terrible thing happened in the painful breakup I was going through, and I made the decision to drink that night. But I had enough program in me that I decided to go to a meeting first. Give it that last chance. I didn't even go into that big gym in the church on Murray-Holiday Blvd. I stood in the back doorway, leaning in to hear sometimes, leaning out on my way out the door sometimes. The chairman called on Kendall. I thought, I like listening to Kendall, I'll stay until he's finished. And I listened.
He said: "The first year of any alcoholic's sobriety has to be the most challenging year of his life." And every light in my brain turned on again. I thought, I am halfway through the most challenging year of my life, and if I go out, I either have to stay out--or start the most challenging year of my life all over again.
Those words that Kendall spoke that night were my last--and only--line of defense that night. But they were powerful enough to keep me sober that night.
Your line: "Kendall...inspired thousands of people to live a life free from addiction." I know the truth of that in the deepest personal way, because I speak as one of them.
Kendall saved my life--twice.
And I want to believe that he would be amused to know that I am still telling those stories to anyone who'll listen.
Thank you, Kendall. I will always remember what you did for me. God bless you.
So sorry to hear about Kendall’s passing. I was one of his VA Medical Center care givers for many years. What an honor to care for such a wonderful man.
Kendall was an inspiration to me as I became sober and attended AA meetings.
His lovely voice is in my thoughts as I write this. Condolences to his family and all the other AA friends he
affected. I will always remember his kindness and example.