Richard Ketover

Richard Ketover, age 90, of Boca Raton, Florida, passed away peacefully on June 16, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. He was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Cele and Jack Ketover, and his brother, Lawrence Ketover. Richard is survived by his wife of 45 years, Carol; his children Scott (Linda) Ketover, Lisa Peraza, Caron Rockman (Steven Dennis), and David Rosalsky; and his cherished grandchildren, Jason Ketover, Aly (Andrew) Rothschild, Jarod (Andrea) Peraza, Lindsay Rockman, Emily Peraza, and Cydney Rockman. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Richard was a lifelong baseball fan whose loyalty began with the Brooklyn Dodgers and shifted to the New York Mets after the Dodgers' move to Los Angeles. As a child, he enjoyed family vacations to the Borscht Belt and Lake George—memories that blossomed into a lifelong love of the Adirondacks, which he later shared with his children through many visits and homes in the region. Richard was a proud graduate of Brooklyn Technical High School and New York University, where he earned both his undergraduate and master’s degrees in industrial engineering. He served honorably in the U.S. Army Reserves and the Army Corps of Engineers. Professionally, he began his career as a systems analyst for Macy’s at Herald Square and became an early innovator in the emerging field of computer-based data processing. Later in life, he transitioned into swimming pool manufacturing and residential real estate, running several successful businesses. He was known as a compassionate and principled boss, remarking that he would never let someone go on a Friday, understanding the emotional impact it could have on their weekend and job search. Richard was a licensed private pilot and found great joy in flying and owning single-engine Cessnas, meticulously planning every flight with the precision and logic of an engineer. Once retired to FL, he transitioned from flying to boating and again put his engineering skills to use planning his seafaring adventures. His friendships, many of which began in his Zeta Beta Tau fraternity at NYU, endured for decades. He continued to support ZBT and many Jewish philanthropic causes throughout his life. After retiring in 1992, Richard and Carol moved to Boca Raton, where in addition to boating he rekindled his love of golf. He took great pride in watching his grandchildren grow and flourish. Together, he and Carol traveled the world, often bringing their mothers along to share in their adventures. Funeral services will be held at 12:00 PM on Thursday June 19 at The Gardens of Boca Raton, 4103 N Military Trail, Boca Raton. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the ZBT Foundation Ketover Family Scholarship or donor’s favorite charity. Shiva will be held at 7:00 PM on Thursday at the Ketover home in Boca Raton. A gathering of family and friends will take place on Friday from 2-5 PM and Saturday 6-8 PM also at the Ketover home.

Richard Ketover

June 2, 1935 - June 16, 2025