AGAWAM - Kenneth Raymond Joseph Matuewezski, 58, of Agawam Mass. passed away on May 1 of pneumonia. Kensington Marsh, as he was known by his friends, was an exceptionally creative and kind person, whose presence will be deeply missed.

Working as an interior designer, Kensington had a magical ability to connect with people. His authentic warmth, inviting sense of humor and confident, creative flair won the trust and affection of many long-term clients and coworkers in the Pioneer Valley.

His greatest project as an interior designer was his family home on Raymond Ave. in Hatfield, Mass. He lived almost every day of his life in that home. It was the center of his life, and his family's life.

Born in the summer of 1967, Kensington was the only son of Julie Anne (Zalenski) and Kenneth Matuewezski. They lived upstairs in a two-family home, while Kensington's grandparents, Joseph Zalenski and Julia Grala, lived downstairs.

Much of the family life took place in the extensive backyard and gardens. They took down an old barn, and planted row upon row of vegetables and flowers. Julia canned absolutely everything. Kenny, as they called Kensington, spent most days of his childhood in that yard, playing and eating barbecue with his parents, grandparents, cousin, Sandra Weinberg and aunt Jeanette Goller.

Kensington graduated from Hatfield's Smith Academy in 1985, where he excelled in the Drama and Glee clubs. After high school, he moved to New York City to attend the acclaimed Fashion Institute of Technology. He graduated with a degree in Fashion Buying and Merchandising and then completed his interior design certification at the Sheffield School of Interior Design in New York.

Kensington returned home after college to design store displays for the historic Steiger's department store, in Springfield, Mass., Filene's department store in Holyoke, Mass., and Yankee Candle Company's flagship store in South Deerfield, Mass. While at Yankee Candle, Kensington created the iconic Black Forest display and merchandising for the annual Christmas shops.

In the late 90s, Kensington started working as an interior designer and salesperson at Chap de Laine's Interiors in South Hadley, Mass., a position he held for 15 years. His final job was lead interior designer for Danco Furniture & Design in Hatfield, Mass. He retired in 2021 and eventually moved into Holiday Quail Run Estates in Agawam.

Throughout his life, Kensington loved pets. He treasured his time with the family cats and dachshund, and later lovingly cared for his mother's songbirds. Outside, he tended his koi pond, and occasionally even gave a snack to a passing raccoon.

It all centered around his Hatfield home. Once his grandparents passed away, Kensington threw himself into a major, decades-long renovation. He rebuilt every room in the house, and much of the exterior. He spent much of his free time happily searching eBay for that one antique lamp, pillow or dish set he needed to vignette his living room, guest room or parlor.

Each spring, a truckload of mulch would arrive, resulting in weeks of satisfying raking, trimming and mulching in the gardens. He gave special care to his decorative pond and gazebo, and took great pride in the fact that his property was a Certified Wildlife Habitat of the National Wildlife Federation.

Kensington's only surviving relative is the cousin with whom he spent many an afternoon in that beloved backyard, Sandra Weinberg, now of Palm City, Fla.