Kyle Micah McKinney, 49, of Andover, died on Jan. 19, 2012, while undergoing treatment for multiple myeloma.
Born in Niagara Falls, N.Y., McKinney moved with his mother and brothers to Columbia, Mo., at age 13 and graduated from Hickman High School in 1979. He earned a Bachelor of Science in political science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1983 and a Master of Business Administration from Stanford University in 1986.
An entrepreneur even before he entered business school, McKinney founded and ran Apollo Movers while an undergraduate at MIT. In recent years, he has developed several business ventures including Enterprise Homes, a business that brings affordable modular homes to Tanzania. Enterprise Solar, LLC, another one of McKinney’s businesses, manufactured solar panels for municipalities while expanding job opportunities for young adults of color at union wages. Mckinney also collaborated with the IBEW Local 103 to form Union Solar, LLC, a solar power installation company.
For nearly a decade beginning in 1986, Kyle was chief operating officer of Lena Park Community Development Corporation, a multi-service organization which has developed and maintains hundreds of units of affordable housing in Dorchester and Mattapan.
In 1996, he became a property casualty broker and worked most recently for Global Insurance Network in Needham, Mass.
McKinney was active as a volunteer board member of several nonprofits. At the time of his death, he was treasurer of Massachusetts Energy Consumers Alliance. For many years he was chairman of New Ecology, Inc. and of the Edward L. Cooper Community Gardening and Education Center.
A strong believer in the power of interpersonal connection, McKinney was involved in several social organizations.
He was president of the unique and storied black men’s organization, The Sportsman’s Club of Boston and was a founder of its Camp Armstrong Annual Outing. He was the former chair of the MIT Club of Boston’s “Boston Seminar Series” and was a member of the Fathers’ Auxiliary of the Newton Chapter of Jack and Jill.
A founding member of the MIT chapter of the fraternity Zeta Psi, he remained involved with the organization throughout his life.
Mckinney was a loving husband to his wife of 23 years, Michelle Zachary McKinney; a strong father to Nicole, Miriam and Maxwell; a devoted son to Loretta J. Williams and step son to Nancy E. McKinne.
McKinney was a supportive brother to Theos III and his wife Sylvia; Kenelm and his wife Gweneth; Karena and her husband Chris; Alythea; Rebekah; and a fun uncle to Aubrey, Deren, Kieran and Esme.
McKinney’s father, Theos D. McKinney Jr., died in 2006.
McKinney will also be missed by his mother-in-law Doris Zachary, brother-in-law Louis Zachary and sister-in-law Dr. Cherie Zachary along with many, many other relatives, friends and colleagues.
The family will receive visitors at their home, 21 Knollcrest Drive in Andover, on Jan. 28, 2012, beginning at 5 p.m. All are welcome.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to the Massachusetts Energy Consumers Alliance.
