Paul Gregory Kit
(1967-2023) On October 10, 2023, Paul Kit, loving husband and father of two children, passed away after a brief but courageous struggle with leukemia. Paul was born on January 9, 1967 in Hartford, Connecticut to Harry and Maxine Kit. He grew up in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida where he loved working on cars, motorcycles and fix-it projects with his dad. He excelled at school work and showed strong business acumen by launching the high school’s bookstore and bringing Junior Achievement to the school. When voted “Most Serious” in his senior yearbook, he retaliated by holding a prop encyclopedia upside down and adding “football lineman” as one of his skills (he was responsible for painting the lines on the football field prior to games). A northerner at heart, he may have been the only kid in Florida with hockey posters on his walls and a goal net in the driveway.
He attended the University of Buffalo where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and met and married his wife, Michele (née Manns). Together they raised two children, Jordan and Cameron (aka Chloe) while living in Buffalo, NY, Marshfield, MA, Chesterland, OH, and Cleveland Heights, OH. In his early professional life, he traveled extensively throughout North America, South Anerica, Europe and India, building lifelong relationships.
Paul was a strong leader, mentor and friend in his work life including his time as President of the Northeast Region with Flatiron Crane Operating Company and his 20+ years with Simmers Crane Design and Services. Paul’s adventurous spirit and drive to learn led him to pursue his Master of Business Administration Degree from Bowling Green University, which he received with a 4.0 GPA on August 5th, 2023.
Paul loved to relax with friends and family, and was extremely generous with his time, resources, and vast skill set. He spent a great deal of his valuable free time on projects around the house to make it a more comfortable and inviting place for friends and family. He looked forward to speaking with his mother by phone, every night, and visiting with her when he could. Paul had a lifelong passion for ice hockey and continued to play later in life from 2015-2020 in a local recreational league.
Paul is preceded in death by his father, Harry Kit. He is survived by his wife, Michele Kit, his children, Jordan and Cameron/Chloe Kit, as well as by his mother, Maxine Kit, his sister, Sharon Kit Ryan, and his beloved pets, Fiona, Lady Kensington, Bacchus, and Luna.
A celebration of life gathering for friends and family will take place at Paul and Michele’s home in Cleveland Heights, OH from 12:00pm-4:00pm and a second gathering will be held that evening, beginning at 4:30pm, at the Kensington Pub at 2260 Lee Rd, also in Cleveland Heights, OH. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter or Cleveland Heights Youth Recreation Fund in Paul’s memory and cherish daily, the precious gift of love, family and friendship.