Patricia "Tricia" Kennell

Patricia "Tricia" Kennell, 84, passed away peacefully Tuesday afternoon September 6, 2016. She was born in Teignmouth, England to the late Dorothy Hooper and lived in Devonshire on the southwest tropical garden coast. As teenagers Patricia and her sister, Barbara had a dancing act. They later joined London's famous Tiller Girls procession line dancing company. Tricia performed at the London Palladium Theatre and the Folies-Bergere in Paris. John Ringling North recruited and hired Tricia and four other dancers to move to America and join Ringling Brothers and Barnum Baily Circus as showgirl dancers. Tricia left England for America as soon as she turned 21, aboard the Queen Mary, her first experience on an ocean liner. She also sailed aboard the Queen Elizabeth, the France and the United States. Thus her love for travel began and lasts to this day! She was married to her first husband, Oscar Konyot in 1954. He was born in Romania, lived in Italy and moved to Sarasota in 1951. Oscar was a circus performer and famous wild animal trainer most of his life. He was a member of The Ringling Brothers Circus as a lion tamer and also had a chimpanzee act. In 1954 Tricia and Oscar formed the very popular circus western rodeo "Bonanza" chimpanzee act. They performed with circuses in the United States, South America and Europe with 3 chimpanzees, 1 collie dog and a pony. They always had the center ring when performing, which was a significant accomplishment. While traveling the world Tricia learned to speak 5 languages, Spanish, German, Italian, French and Russian. In the 1960's Tricia's act was part of the United States and Russia Cultural Exchange. They lived and worked in Moscow, Stalingrad and St. Petersburg for 2 years. Oscar passed away in 1975. After Oscar's death Tricia worked in the hotel hospitality business at the popular Far Horizons Resort on Longboat Key until 1982. While ballroom dancing in 1984 she met her second husband, Dewey Kennell, a prominent local builder and developer at the time. Tricia loved to travel the world and she had many accomplishments. She was Co-founder and President of Landings Travel, a full service airline, cruise, tours and foreign independent travel company from 1982 to 2000. She was the Co-founder and President of Golden Anchor Travel in 2003, specializing in group cruises, tours and foreign independent travel. In 2010 Tricia was President Emeritus and retired from active participation in the travel agency. Tricia and Dewey have traveled the world together, ballroom dancing and making wonderful friendships along the way. The family will receive friends from 2 until 3:00 pm Tuesday afternoon September 13, 2016 at Toale Brothers Funeral Home – 6903 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, Florida 34231, with a celebration of life service at 3:00 pm in the chapel. A reception will follow after the service at the Funeral Home. Tricia has resided at Inspired Living of Sarasota for the past year. Her family would like to extend a special thanks to the wonderful staff for their kindness and excellent care and Tidewell Hospice Crisis Care. In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider a donation to the Alzheimer's Association.

Tributes

Patricia "Tricia" Kennell

January 24, 1932 - September 6, 2016