BRUNSWICK – “Dick” Kezer, 92, died peacefully on Oct. 17, 2023.

The most important particular in his long life was his family. His wife of 63 years, Valerie (Dec. 15, 1930 – Aug. 20, 2014—yes, they had exactly same birthday!) and he, were so proud of their five daughters, including Leslie, their second child, who was born in 1956 and died of leukemia in 1967. Sandra (a nurse), Allison (a behavioral specialist), Gail (a public servant) and Ann (an HR executive) gave Dick and Val 11 grandchildren, each one uniquely wonderful in their eyes. A first great-grandson, Gabriel, delighted Dick and he knew before his passing that there would be two more great-grandsons on the way, as well as another forthcoming family wedding.

Dick and Val raised their family together in Shrewsbury, N.J. where they lived for 47 years before moving to Brunswick in 2003. Additionally, in 1983, they bought a home on Bailey Island in Maine, where they would spend 40 years as the family grew. It is the family’s touchstone.

Following graduation from Dartmouth College in 1952, an education he mostly self-financed through several jobs, and with a year of an MBA under his belt at the Tuck School of Business, he matriculated at New York University where he earned a master’s degree in 1953. That was an interesting year: working for the New York office of the Chicago, Ill. investment banking firm of Halsey, Stuart and Co.; attending classes at night; writing his master’s thesis on the weekends and, in his spare time, courting Valerie Vreeland, a Life magazine staffer and love of his life, whom he met during the summer of 1951. He enrolled in the U.S. Navy Officer Candidate School program in November of 1953, was commissioned in January 1954, and the following day, he and Val were married.

After six months in Athens, Ga., and two-plus years of service at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, he was discharged and returned to Halsey, Stuart. In 1966, he was recruited to join First National City Bank (later part of Citigroup). At Citi, he was eventually in charge of the Investment Banking Division (not called that in those days) with responsibility for about 370 underwriters, traders, salespeople, investment bankers, and related staff. One memorable and challenging experience in those years of Dick’s business life was working through the mid-to-late 1970s with the group that saved both New York City and New York State from bankruptcy. He also enjoyed being part of the bond financing teams for the construction of San Francisco’s Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system, Washington Public Power Supply and many other municipal infrastructure projects around the country.

Along the way of his investment banking career, Dick received some notable industry recognition: He was appointed by the Securities and Exchange Commission to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board, the initial group to establish standards for self-regulation in the market for municipal securities. In 1988, he was elected Chair of the Board of the Public Securities Association, a national organization of 400 commercial and investment banks. His family remains so proud of his many professional contributions.

Hoping to avoid the “vacant face and careless gesture” of his 1993 retirement, he formed Richard F. Kezer Associates to consult for organizations like the Urban Institute and the World Bank, developing capital markets in local government finance, mostly in former Soviet bloc countries in Central Europe. He took great satisfaction in helping countries like the Czech Republic develop financial institutions and financial practices that we take for granted.

His greatest satisfaction in his later years, and his favorite moments, came from spending time with his grandchildren listening to music, everything from Abba to show tunes, skiing, sailing, organizing batting practice, spectating the football, baseball, soccer, softball, lacrosse, hockey, field hockey and other pursuits of his grandchildren, going to Seadogs and Red Sox games, traveling internationally, participating in the July 4th family talent shows, and whatever else he found himself doing to meet each one on terms he/she set. He loved learning the details of their lives and with that curiosity responded to them with clipped news articles or a book on a particular subject. He also enjoyed world travel with Val as well as many, many books on many, many subjects. He was the most widely read reader we know. His love of classical music led him to serve on the founding Board of the Bowdoin Summer Music Festival. Some of his happiest times included sitting on the porch of the family home on Bailey Island with a beer, and a good sandwich in conversation and laughter with those he loved, neighbors and friends.

Dick was predeceased in 2014 by his wife of 63 years, Val; and their beloved daughter, Leslie.

Dick understood his own life to be one of meaning and purpose with his share of triumph, tragedy, disappointment, elation and worry, but, in large measure, great satisfaction. He had an unparalleled work ethic, and yet, he never missed a chance to show up for any one of us, anytime, anywhere. His role as provider and protector of his family, even as it expanded, was one he relished, ever the selfless example of that expression—“if you want to know who I am, watch my feet.” He was deeply loved by his family until his last breath, a fact he knew, as well as returned every day of his long and rich life.

Three generations of his family will honor him in a private celebration of his life in 2024.

In lieu of flowers, please make a memorial contribution in his name to

Camp Sunshine, a camp on the shores of Sebago Lake that serves families who live with a child suffering with a terminal illness: either by mail to

Camp Sunshine,

35 Acadia Rd.,

Casco, ME 04015

or online at

https://www.campsunshine.org/giving/tribute-and-memorial-gifts.

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