SARATOGA SPRINGS — David W. Keiper, 75, passed away Tuesday, December 31 at Saratoga Hospital.
Dave was born in Brooklyn on March 4, 1938 to parents Richard and Velma (Wood) Keiper. He graduated from Brooklyn Technical High school and started his career as a union sheet metal worker in New York City.
He married Anne Flanagan in 1959 and started his family while pursuing a college education in night school, obtaining his engineering degree from Brooklyn’s Pratt Institute.
Dave served as Deputy Commissioner of Highways for the city of New York from 1970 to 1974. His career then took him to the state capitol where he worked as Director of Operations for the New York state Assembly in Albany until 1982. Dave then served as NYS Commissioner of Bill Drafting in the capitol Building, Albany, until his retirement in 2001.
He was very involved in Brooklyn politics in the 1960s and ’70s and quickly developed a talent for managing campaigns. His work expanded to city and statewide elections. He was instrumental in the successful elections of John Lindsay for NYC Mayor in 1965 and 1969, Hugh Carey for Governor in 1974 and then Mario Cuomo for Governor 1982 and 1986. Dave continued his involvement in New York state politics, managing campaigns for State Senators and Assemblymen all over the State throughout the 1980s.
He moved to Saratoga Springs in 1976 and then lived in Wilton from 1978 until 1989 where he served on the Wilton Town Planning board. After his retirement, Dave moved to the North fork of Long Island wine country, where he enjoyed the company of many old friends. He then returned to Saratoga in 2012 to be closer to his family.
Dave lived his life to the fullest and had many strong interests and passions, among them his love of great food and fine wines. He was an accomplished cook, creating amazing dishes for his family. Dave was a true patron of the arts, his love of classical music, opera and fine art influenced him throughout his life and travels. He also loved history and travel, seeing many parts of the world numerous times including virtually all of Western Europe and the U.K., Sicily, Yugoslavia, Greece, Turkey, the Mediterranean, Australia, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Thailand and many more. His favorite destination was Paris and the wine country of France.
He is survived by his children: Melissa Keiper of Brooklyn, Elizabeth (Doug) Keiper of Brooklyn and Stephen (Sue) Keiper of Wilton; his beloved grandchildren: Nathan Keiper and Nicholas Keiper of Wilton and Lauren Keiper of Brooklyn. He is also survived by his sisters; Suzanne (Martin) Sanders of Campbell Hall and Mary (Dan) Ryan of Chester, as well as his nieces and nephews.
The family would like to give special thanks to Dave’s caregiver and friend Gloria Rodeheaver, with whom he developed a remarkable close bond.
