William R. Kecskemety

WILLIAM R. KECSKEMETY age 70, beloved husband for 45 years of Patricia (nee Cassese); loving father of Krista Kecskemety (husband Bob Rhoads) and Kara Wolcott (husband Paul); devoted grandfather of Maria, Lily and Andrew Wolcott; cherished son of the late William L. and Betty Jane (nee Farkas); dearest brother of Brent (wife Beth) and the late Mary, treasured son-in-law of the late Andrew and Mary Ellen Cassese; dear brother-in-law, uncle, great-uncle, cousin and friend of many. Bill was called home to heaven on October 29, 2025, leaving behind a legacy as a man who was devoted to his family and faith.

Bill was born on November 14, 1954, to William and Betty in Cleveland, Ohio. He spent his youth growing up in the Hungarian neighborhood on Buckeye Road attending St. Margaret’s of Hungary parish and school. He graduated from Benedictine High School in 1972, after which he pursued higher education at John Carrol University, where he graduated in 1976 with his Bachelors. Bill met the love of his life, Patricia, and knew he was going to marry her on the third date. The two were married in 1980. Together they started a family, and Bill became the father of two wonderful daughters. A “girl dad” before the words became popularized, Bill shared his passion for sports with his family, initiating a generational love. He was the owner and operator of his own Insurance Agency, where his sociability and friendly demeanor netted him many clients over the years, along with the respect of his colleagues. Bill was a dedicated insurance professional who served as President of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors Ohio (NAIFA). He was a passionate advocate for the industry, frequently lobbying with legislators in Columbus and Washington DC. Bill always put his clients’ needs first. Just as he was devoted to family and his career, Bill was also devoted to God. He regularly volunteered his time at St. Margaret Mary’s annual carnival and later was a parishioner at St. Clare Church. He was an active member of the South Euclid-Lyndhurst community advocating for school funding. As a young man, Bill caddied and worked at Shaker Heights Country Club, eventually becoming a member of the Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA). Although his time on the course dwindled over the years, his love for the game never faded. Bill especially enjoyed golfing with his family. He was an avid Cleveland sports fan, listening to sports radio and podcasts, keeping up to date with each team. He always cheered on his home teams no matter how their season was going. Bill and his family enjoyed baseball season tickets for many years going to playoffs, World Series and All-Star games together. They even visited Cooperstown. Many other vacations were taken to visit family. A highlight was to regularly visit and play with his grandkids in Michigan. He also enjoyed family trips to Florida and Oglebay Park and recently had the opportunity to travel to Hawaii. It was said that he never knew a stranger, as those he met quickly turned into friends that always got a kick out of his great sense of humor.

Cremation by DeJohn Cremetory. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Bill to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, 13815 Coit Road, Cleveland, OH 44110 https://support.greaterclevelandfoodbank.org or charity of your choice. Relatives and Friends are requested to meet for Mass of Christian Burial FRIDAY, November 7, 2025 at St. Clare Catholic Church at 10 AM. Burial following at Lake View Cemetery. Family will receive friends to pay tribute to and celebrate the life of Bill at THE DeJOHN-FLYNN-MYLOTT FUNERAL HOME OF SOUTH EUCLID, 4600 MAYFIELD RD. (just east of Green Rd.) THURSDAY 3-7 PM.