Support 7 ~ A Legacy in Motion

In Honor Of Our Founder, Chaplain Ken Gaydos

Ken was the first one to respond when a call came out…his gentle presence brought peace and compassion to victims of crisis and first responders all across Snohomish County. After a bout with cancer, Ken, 79, was ushered into the arms of Jesus surrounded by his loving family on Sept. 3, 2018.

Ken was the Founder and Executive Director of “International Chaplain’s Ministry” and Support 7.  Ken was the longest serving police/fire chaplain in state of Washington and one of longest in the United States. Ken established chaplaincies on every continent except Antarctica. Because of his reputation, he was called to respond to national tragedies such as Oklahoma City Bombing and the September 11 attacks (9/11) among others to serve and mentor chaplains during these major incidents.

It was Ken’s desire to be a light in the darkness and to be a comfort to those in need. Ken’s faith gave him a peace that surpasses understanding … and he gently shared that peace with everyone he met. His warmth and wisdom calmed many people in their darkest moments.

Ken was a public servant in the Puget Sound region for more than 50 years, receiving numerous honors for his pioneering ministry effort. However, prior to moving to Seattle, Ken also had a distinguished journalism career. He began this career in the world of radio and television news where as a reporter he covered many events of tragedy including the assassination of United States Sen. Robert Kennedy at Los Angeles’ Ambassador Hotel among other high-profile events.

In 1973, Ken accepted a volunteer appointment to introduce and establish the areas’ first comprehensive volunteer pastoral fire and police service chaplaincy. The First Edmonds Fire Chief, Jack Cooper, asked Ken to be the first chaplain for Edmonds and in South Snohomish County. (Jack went home to Glory in Sept. 2023).

The birth of the idea to start Support 7, an Incident Response Team with an Emergency Response Vehicle, was a sad, long and dreary day in August 1981. Ken was called to serve the family of a local diver, David Smith, who couldn’t be found on the Edmonds’ waterfront. The diver’s family, fellow divers, friends, community leaders, and the public gathered, waited, and watched for hours in the rain as media looked on and the Coast Guard worked into the night looking for David. Ken looked around the emergency scene and thought “we can do better than this” and he started Support 7.

This Emergency Response Vehicle offers a quiet place for victims and families to get out of the elements, away from the media and have a safe place to grieve and have interviews with police, fire and receive services from Red Cross in times of crisis. This Emergency Response Vehicle, is also an extension of the medical and wellness rehab for the first responders who are on-scene for extended periods of time, providing food, nourishment and a bathroom.

In Tribute to Ken, The Gaydos family: Ken’s wife Lois and their four adult children Kristin (Camp), Mark, Denise (Welch) and Tim with their spouses, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren have created the “Ken Gaydos Good Samaritan Award” given to a deserved servant of Jesus. The family also includes a financial donation to a family in-need who Support 7 has served.

Ken’s legacy of work continues through others.

If you’d like to help through financial gifts to this legacy click here or use this QR Code.