Kalman Kecskemety (“Kal”), a Chatham resident since 1963, died on December 28, 2022. He was 96 years old. Born in Northampton, PA, he was raised by his paternal grandparents in Hungary until the age of 12. At age 12, he emigrated to New York City to be with his parents who were building a new future in America. He attended a local trade school before being drafted in 1944 into the U.S. Army at the age of 18 to serve in WWII. Kal was a Technical Sergeant and served in a field artillery unit in Germany. He received his honorable discharge in 1946. Upon leaving the service, he completed his high school education at Stuyvesant High School in NYC. Kal began his career at Bell Labs, in NYC, as a junior draftsman in 1951. While working at Bell Labs he attended Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute where he earned his BS degree in Electrical Engineering. He spent his whole career, 37 years, at Bell Labs retiring in 1988. He was an avid oil painter and trained at the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey. His excellent skills in plumbing, electrical and carpentry allowed him to improve his home, which he enjoyed, and also to perform maintenance on a number of sports cars which he cherished. He loved traveling with his wife to Africa, Tanzania, and Europe as well as states across the country. Kal loved watching his great grandchildren play soccer and baseball as they were growing up.
Kal was the beloved husband of Helen for 75 years. They had a wonderful life together. He was the loving father of Christine and Eileen. The proud grandfather of Jennifer and great grandfather of Catherine, Sophia and Alex.