Obituary
Guest Book
1936
2018
JAMES ADDISON McKNIGHT III (Jim), 81, passed into glory Wednesday, January 10, 2018, 2:55PM , at Westminster Winter Park Health Center. His loving wife of 52 years, Lynne, son Patrick J McKnight and daughter-in-law Dena, son Andrew R McKnight, daughter Sarah McKnight Sasek, surrounded Jim’s bedside with love during his final days and hours. Jim was a real estate developer and contractor by education and trade. Before moving his family from Chicago, Illinois, in 1981, he had founded K M Knight Construction Company in Skokie, Illinois, at the age of 26. Small, but successful, the company had varied projects such as a hotel in downtown Evanston, Illinois, a remodeled brownstone home in the Belmont Harbor area, for which he received a prestigious architectural remodeling award from the AIA. He developed high end homes in the Villa Turicum subdivision of Lake Forest, Illinois, as well as Stoneybrook subdivision in Libertyville, Illinois, and high-end homes in Lincolnshire, Illinois. Belmont Avenue Apartments is the single 20 story high rise he built in the Belmont Harbor area. Many commercial and moderately priced 4 plus 1 apartment projects were also built in the larger Chicago area. Jim was offered the opportunity to move to Florida as Vice-President of Development and Construction to build Vistana Resort. Eventually the company was bought by Starwood Hotels, reaching a national market, including Hawaii. In 2006, Jim became a consultant, and retired from the industry in 2008. Shortly after retirement, Jim was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease (2011). In 2014, Lynne and Jim moved to a smaller home in Waterbridge, Winter Park. In 2016, Jim moved to the Memory Care Unit of Westminster, then upstairs to skilled nursing, in October, 2017. Jim loved the outdoors, and took his bride for their honeymoon, to the family “Tree Farm” in Northeast Wisconsin. He loved nature, travel, gardening, and especially his Bride, Lynne, and children. Family travels were great adventures. They ranged from the North Woods in Wisconsin, to Atlantis in the Bahamas, to Montana, Wyoming, Canada. Jim was an Irishman to the core, devoted to the principles of integrity, honor, and family. And a little Bushmills Irish Whiskey didn’t hurt, either! A Memorial Celebration of Jim’s life will be held mid to late February at First Presbyterian Church, Orlando. Details will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions in memory of Mr. McKnight, to the Alzheimer's Association Central and North Florida, 2180 West State Road 434, Suite 1100, Longwood, FL 32779. Contributions can also be made on-line at https://www.alz.org/cnfl/
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Sponsored by Baldwin-Fairchild Goldenrod/Winter Park Funeral Home Goldenrod Chapel.
2 Entries
January 26, 2018
My sincere condolences to you and your family .I know that all the wonderful memories you have of Jim and your wonderful life together will help you get through this difficult time. God Bless you and your family.
Patricia Maloney - Windermere, Florida
January 22, 2018
Coworker
Julie Smith
Hi Lynne,
Our condolences to you and your family. May God grant you strength and comfort during this very difficult time. I will always hold Jim close to my heart. He took me under his wing when we worked at Vistana together and taught me so much over the 23 years I was there. He contributed to my career progression with all his guidance and advise through the years. He will be dearly missed!
Showing 1 - 2 of 2 results
Funeral services provided by:
Baldwin-Fairchild Goldenrod/Winter Park Funeral Home7520 Aloma Ave, Winter Park, FL 32792
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read moreWhat kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read moreWe'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreIf you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read moreLegacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read moreThey're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read more