Kenny Kassel – Rest in Peace
Kenny Kassell, part of the NPC team that takes care of all of the national shows, passed away unexpectedly. For many of us who cover the NPC shows, we just saw him at the NPC Nationals, backstage, doing what he loved doing. He will be sorely missed, and he is also the backstage announcer at many of these shows. The cause of death was determined to be Congestive Heart Failure (CHF).
The funeral service will be on Sunday, December 28th, at 10am
It is on Sunday at 10 am at Temple Beth El, 221 Schraalenburgh Road, Closter, New Jersey, 07624 Please call 201-768-5115 for more info.
From bodybuilding.com’s profile on Kenny.
Kenny Kassel has been involved in the fitness industry for over 25 years and in the entertainment industry for over 15 years. Kenny had been training with weights since he was 14 years old. He was lucky enough to have learned how to properly work out from legendary bodybuilders like Tom Platz, Danny Padilla, Robby Robinson, Leon Brown, and Pete Grymkowski, while visiting California in the 1970s.
After starting a gym, he began training many bodybuilders, and specializing with the women, starting around 1981. Kenny also had some of the professional athletes in his native NY area, such as members of the NY Yankees training in his gym. He worked with several members of the 1986 Super Bowl Champion NY Giants.
His foray into the entertainment industry began when he started Beauti-Fit Talent Agency, in order to start and nurture the careers of model Raye Hollitt, who became a star of the popular television show “American Gladiators.” Kenny also worked with several women who were bodybuilders and were marketable and helped them find work doing guest performances, and receiving major media coverage.
Kenny has managed 1989 National bodybuilding Champion Sharon Marvel, and later on managed 2000 Ms. Olympia Valentina Chepiga. In the early 1990s a friend who was a trainer and had moved out to California to train film stars introduced Kenny to 11-time World Kickboxing Champion Don “The Dragon” Wilson, who had already starred in over 20 action films.
Kenny Kassel,
Was the impresario of nice guys, hard worker and ambassador for his undying cause with his committee? His legacy spans three decades in the show business and master of Ceremonies.
Kenny volunteered his services to help us out with the 6th Annual Academy of Bodybuilding, Fitness, Sports and Movie Awards. Our Award Show featured: Baseballs Barry Bonds, Movie star Clint Walker, Steve Reeves, Lou Ferrigno, Mike O’Hearn, Jack LaLanne, Debbie Kruck, Joe Weider, Bob Delmonteque, John Balik and host of who’s who. Kenny made the magic come alive while he was acting as M.C. for a few of the awards. Kenny always had something nice to say about his contemporizes in his chosen field.
I only hope that Kenny is given something special for his years of service and not forgotten about as seems to be the case with many in his committee.
Mike Glass Productions Est. 1971
My condolences to his family, Kenny gave me my first interview after winning my first 2 shows as a competitor he gave me the spark to continue in a sport I would have never thought of doing
I first met Kenny when I was training at MId City Gym in NYC when he brought Sharon Marvel there for a guest posing. We became close friends and over the years he always provided encouragement and kind words.
First Steve Stone and now you…..
Bye Kenny,
regards,
Karen Neumann
Weider Pub/ Holland
What can you do. Steroids will do that.
Never stop working out and always eat healty meals as you age.