Kimball C. Firestone

Mr. Kimball Curtis Firestone, 90, the long-time proprietor of a popular Frederick, Maryland restaurant, Firestone's Culinary Tavern, and a former executive of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company founded by his grandfather Harvey S. Firestone, died on Monday, June 3, at his home in Middletown.

He was born in Los Angeles, CA on November 26, 1933. He was the son of the late Leonard K. Firestone and Polly Curtis Firestone. His father was president of The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company of California and served as United States Ambassador to Belgium from 1974 through 1976. His tire pioneer grandfather founded The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company in Akron, Ohio, in 1900.

Kimball Firestone earned a bachelor of arts degree and a master of business administration degree from Stanford University. Following service in the U. S. Army, Mr. Firestone joined The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company in 1964 in Akron, where he served in real estate and finance posts. In 1969, he moved to the company’s government affairs office in Washington, D.C., as associate manager. He became manager of government affairs in 1970 and vice president of government relations in 1973. In 1976, Mr. Firestone resigned from the company to pursue private business interests. Kimball Firestone served on Firestone’s board of directors from 1974 until 1988, when the company was acquired by Bridgestone Corporation.

While he was a resident of Akron, Mr. Firestone was active in community affairs. He was president of Akron Child Guidance Center, vice president of the Akron YMCA and vice president of Junior Achievement of Akron. He also was a member of the board of advisors of St. Thomas Hospital. Kimball Firestone was president of his family’s Firestone Foundation from 1974 until 1983.

For decades, Mr. Firestone managed his farms, first in Potomac and later in Middletown, where he raised crops and bred thoroughbred racehorses. He was a dedicated hands-on operator working on the daily routines of the horses and the scientific process of breeding thoroughbreds, as well as spending time aboard tractors mowing the fields.

In 1999, he opened Firestone’s Culinary Tavern in Frederick, Maryland, which he continued to operate along with Firestone’s Market on Market, an adjoining gourmet food and wine shop.

Mr. Firestone served in numerous civic and community organizations, including the Washington Hospital Center, United Service Organizations (USO), the Holton Arms School board of trustees and the Maryland Horse Breeders Association board of directors. In Frederick, he served as a board member of Frederick Health Hospice and was a benefactor to the Frederick Health Hospital Cancer Institute (President's Circle Member).

He was a founding member of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) of the United States Department of Defense and delivered remarks at the organization’s 50th anniversary celebration at the Pentagon in 2022.

He wrote a book in 2013, entitled “Reflections on a Silver Spoon: How a Foodie Found Home.” In his book, Mr. Firestone described how he eventually found his passion for food and the restaurant industry later in his professional life.

Mr. Firestone is survived by daughter Carey (Tim) Romer of Palos Verdes Estates, California, sons William Curtis (Terrie) Firestone of Hillsborough, California; Leonard (Nicole) Firestone of Fort Worth, Texas and Christopher (Whitney) Firestone of Boise, Idaho; 13 grandchildren Alison, Samuel, Michele and John Romer; Ryan, Collin, Lilah, Lane, Harvey, Harper, Rhodes, Wilson and Clay Firestone, and two great-granddaughters Lucia and Elliot Romer.

He also is survived by brother Brooks Firestone of Santa Barbara, California; sister Lendy Firestone Brown of Lexington, Kentucky; stepsons Borya (Kristen) Roslov of Dallas, Texas and Alyosha Kachalov, Annapolis and their mother, Larisa Firestone Dittman of Frederick.

In addition to his parents, he was pre-deceased by daughter Kimberley Firestone in 1978.

The family will receive friends from 4pm to 7pm, on Wednesday, June 12, 2024 at the Keeney and Basford Funeral Home, 106 E. Church Street, Frederick. The funeral service will be held at 11:00AM, on Thursday, June 13, 2024 at All Saints Episcopal Church, 106 W. Church Street, Frederick. Inurnment will be private.

Memorials may be made to the Downtown Frederick Partnership (www.downtownfrederick.org ).