York County has lost two of its most prominent business and philanthropic leaders.
- Brothers Jonathan and Timothy Kinsley died Monday while on a skiing trip in British Columbia.
- Jonathan, 59, was an executive with York-based Kinsley Enterprises, which oversees the Kinsley family’s business assets, including Kinsley Construction.
- Timothy, 57, was president of Kinsley Properties, a real estate development and management company.
- “Our entire Kinsley family is still processing this heartbreaking news of their deaths and respectfully ask for privacy at this time,” their brother, Patrick Kinsley, said in a statement on behalf of the Kinsley family. “We know their presence as dedicated leaders in our organization and the community will be immensely missed by many and we are grateful for your love, understanding and prayers as our entire Kinsley family manages this loss.”
What happened: According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, an avalanche on Monday afternoon caught three people who were on a heli-skiing trip in a remote area of northern British Columbia.
- All three were airlifted by helicopter to local hospitals, according to the RCMP, which said they learned of the avalanche around 2:30 p.m. Mountain Standard Time.
- “Ultimately, the efforts to save the lives of the two skiers were unsuccessful,” RMCP Sergeant Chris Dodds, said in a statement. “The third skier involved remains at hospital in serious condition.”
- The two victims were subsequently identified as the two Kinsley brothers.
- A Canadian tour company, CMH Heli+Skiing, identified the third skier as a guide.
- “The thousands of guests who ski with us each winter are our family,” the company said in a statement on the fatal accident. “It is impossible to put into words the sorrow that we feel and the sadness that is shared by our guests, their families and all of our staff.”
The legacy: Jonathan and Timothy Kinsley were sons of York County entrepreneur Robert “Bob” Kinsley, who died in June 2020 at the age of 79.
- Bob Kinsley, who founded what grew into Kinsley Enterprises, had five sons: Jonathan, Timothy, Patrick, Christopher and Robert II.
- While leading and building up one of the region’s largest family-owned companies, the Kinsleys also have beenan active presence in the community,
- Timothy spent 11 years on the board of the York County Community Foundation, where he led committees on grant distribution, the Codorus watershed and YorkCounts, an effort to monitor and improve community well-being.
- He also was an inaugural member of the advisory board for the J.D. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship at York College, which is also home to the Kinsley School of Engineering, Sciences and Technology.
- Jonathan was on the board of Penn-Mar Human Services, which assists people with intellectual disabilities. He also was a trustee at York College, where he served on the finance and advancement committees, according to a college spokesperson.
The impact: Leaders and organizations around York County paid tribute to the two Kinsley brothers,
- “Much like their father, Jon and Tim spent their lifetimes as advocates for our York community.” Kevin Schreiber, president and CEO of the York County Economic Alliance, said in a statement. “It’s nearly impossible to turn a corner and not see a project or encounter an endeavor that is without a Kinsley fingerprint. Our deepest sympathy to the Kinsley family, the Kinsley employees, and the many lives touched and made forever better for Jon and Tim.”
- “The Kinsley family’s impact is felt nearly everywhere on our campus and the York Country Day School,” York College said in a statement by president Pamela Gunter-Smith and board chair Laura Wand. “We ask each of you to reflect on the service and support they generously provided to enrich and enhance the student experience. Their lives of service to others will forever be reflected in our college motto, Servire Est Vivere – ‘To Serve is to Live.'”
- “At YCCF, what we will remember most about Tim is his curiosity, compassion, and his willingness to take a chance on new ideas,” the York County Community Foundation said in a statement. “We are one of the many groups fortunate to be touched by Tim’s generosity of both his time and resources. His impact will live on for years to come.”
