71, Ventura, California.
Kevin (aka the Kevinator) was born in Madison, WI on September 12, 1954 and died peacefully in the home he loved on October 7, 2025.
Kevin's family moved to Sylmar, California when he was an infant. He attended school there until he completed 10th grade at Sylmar High School. He graduated from Marietta High School in Georgia in 1972 after his large family had moved several times.
Kevin was a successful professional motocross racer in the Southeast and worked as a motorcycle mechanic for 4 years after high school. While he was in Middle and High School, several of his teachers saw an academic aptitude in Kevin and encouraged him to pursue a college education. Kevin entered The Georgia Institute of Technology when he was 22 years old. He received his Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Mechanical Engineering, graduating first in his class for both. Kevin was a Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech.
After graduation in 1982, Kevin drove across the US and started his first engineering job at Standard Oil/Chevron in San Francisco. Subsequently, he took his talents to several other companies in Santa Cruz, Goleta, Ventura and Camarillo. In 1997, he was hired at Haas Automation in Oxnard where he was an engineering designer and manager of various machine tools until his retirement in 2020. Kevin was a talented, hard-working member of the Haas Engineering Group and made a conscious effort to mentor the young engineers in his group as well. He was logical, organized, insightful, unpretentious and intelligent. He had a knack for troubleshooting design processes. Kevin was never one to ruffle feathers and was the embodiment of "still waters run deep."
Pre and post retirement, Kevin pursued his passions of woodworking, cycling, reading and surfing. Kevin enjoyed creating sketches for every project because he was always about putting pencil to paper, for just about everything. His handmade pieces are truly works of art.
Kevin met the love of his life, Vana, in 1995, and they married in 2000. They shared an amazing life and were the best of friends and partners and loved holding each other's hand, until his very last breath.
Kevin gave his heart to many canine friends during his life as well and he was their trusted caretaker. Kevin was a dog whisperer and his pups just loved him.
Kevin was the third child (and second son) in a family of 7 children. He is preceded in death by his parents Mary and Bernie Wells and brothers Eddie and Raymond Wells. He is survived by his big sister JoAnn Hudson (J.D.), younger twin siblings Dennis Wells (Janet) and Kathy Barnett (Glen) and the youngest Patrick Wells (Lisa). Nieces Jennifer Hudson Brown (Kevin), Jamie Hudson VerBerg (Mike). Nephews Joshua Barnett, Nick Wells, Taylor Wells, Jacob Wells. Great Nephews Bryson and Hudson VerBerg and Mac Wells.
Finally, he is survived by his loving wife, Sylvana Guidotti, M.D. and his four-legged pal Oliver Wendell Wells (Ollie) who were with Kevin when he departed this world. Vana has been more than blessed to have had Kevin in her life. He was the love of her life.
Kevin will be missed by all who loved and knew him, family and friends alike. All of us are better people because he shared his life with us. We are all comforted that Kevin is in a perfect place without pain or suffering.
In lieu of flowers, you may make a donation in Kevin's memory to Ventura County Humane Society, Ventura County Food Bank, or your favorite Charity. A celebration for Kevin will be held at a later date.