Uncrowned Community Builders

Kenneth Seals, a native Buffalonian, was born on February 20, 1956. He was the eighth child of Reverend W.B. and Clara Ellis Seals. Kenneth completed his early education in the Buffalo Public School System. He graduated from public school #37 and Bennett High School. He attended Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee and earned his undergraduate degree in 1977. He completed his medical program at Meharry Medical School in Nashville where he was awarded a medical degree. Dr. Seals completed his residency at Methodist Medical Center in Peoria, Illinois. He was Board Certified in Family Practice Medicine.

Away from work, Dr. Seals' major form of relaxation was listening to music. He enjoyed all forms of music and took great delight in his collection of albums, compact discs and tapes. Dr. Seals met his future wife, the former Sheila Conwell, in Peoria, during his residency. They were married on January 31, 1993.

While still in college, Dr. Seals joined the United States Navy in 1979. During nearly 17 years in the Navy, he served in naval hospitals in Florida, Bermuda, North Carolina and Naples, Italy. It was during his rotation in Italy that he became ill and was diagnosed with liver cancer in 1995. In spite of his illness, Dr. Seals continued to work as a physician until a month before his death. He was stationed at the Health Center at Quantico Marine Base until his illness forced his retirement from the Navy on May 14, 1996. He died nearly two weeks later on May 26th in Alexandria, Virginia.

Dr. Seals' colleagues described him as a caring and competent physician, who was admired and respected by both his patients and colleagues. It was not uncommon for his patients, who can be found throughout the world, to write to him to express their appreciation for the care they received from him. Prior to his death, Dr. Seals donated his medical books to the Quantico Library where a memorial service was held.

Dr. Seals is buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery near the graves of his parents.