Gary Richard Keesecker
Class of 1953

Gary Keesecker, CHS-53, former student leader died earlier this week.

Portsmouth - Gary Richard Keesecker-PE 81, of Glen Allen, formally of Portsmouth, a retired Dominion Virginia Power Electrical Engineer, passed away on July 18, 2016. Mr. Keesecker was a 1953 graduate and Senior Class President of Cradock High School in Portsmouth, Va.

He earned his degree in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Tech in 1959, followed by graduate work in Business at the University of Richmond. Active in both professional and civic affairs,

Mr. Keesecker was a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the Virginia and National Societies of Professional Engineers and the Engineers' Club of Richmond.

He served on the vestry of St. Martin's Episcopal Church and was a former lay advisor to the Henrico County School Board. He also served as an advisor to the Virginia Science Museum and the Richmond Area Association of Science Teachers. He was an active supporter of the Boy Scouts of America, serving in various leadership positions in the Heart of Virginia Council and was a recipient of the Silver Beaver Award. A licensed Professional Engineer, he was a former adjunct faculty member of Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Virginia.

Gary was born in Martinsburg, West Virginia,; he and was married to Grace Norma Brescia of Cradock in Portsmouth, Virginia for 59 years. Norma preceded him in death.

Gary is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Richard Martin Keesecker and Susan Mitchell Keesecker of Frisco, Texas and Kevin Glenn Keesecker and Stacy Schurz Keesecker of Glen Allen, Virginia; four grandchildren, Brett Michael Keesecker and his wife, Lindsey, Kimberly Lauren Keesecker, Annika Grace Keesecker and Ethan Mitchell Keesecker; brother, Martin Craig Keesecker and his wife, Rosemary, of Virginia Beach, along with their family.

The family will receive friends Friday, July 22, 2016, from 4 to 7 p.m., at Bliley's-Staples Mill, 8510 Staples Mill Rd., where a funeral service will be held Saturday, 10 a.m. Interment to follow in Westhampton Memorial Park. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Berkeley County Historical Society, P.O. Box 1624, Martinsburg, W.Va. 25402.

Published in The Virginian Pilot on July 21, 2016