Richard Keller

'Richard Keller, known affectionately as Ricky, was born on January 30th, 1958 to the late William M. Keller and Dolores E. Keller (nee Wild). On July 27, 2023, he peacefully passed away at home, leaving behind a legacy of love and cherished memories. Ricky was the youngest of three brothers. His oldest brother, Roy Keller, was married to the late Diane Keller (nee LaSpesa). Together, Roy and Diane had two daughters, Tara Mesmer (nee Keller) and Melissa Hockenberry (nee Keller). Tara is happily married to Bryan Mesmer, and they have a wonderful son named Oliver Mesmer. Melissa is married to David Hockenberry, and the couple has been blessed with 3.5-year-old twins, Ethan and Juliet Hockenberry. Ricky's other surviving brother, Timothy Keller, is married to Mary Keller (nee Idem). Together they have two children, Rebecca Dawson (nee Keller) and Alex Keller. Rebecca and her husband Brandon have been blessed with two boys, Harrison and Nate, and recently gave birth to their daughter, Georgia Grace Dawson. Alex Keller is happily married to his wife Kathleen Keller (nee: Rusnak). Ricky was born and raised in Cheektowaga, NY and chose to raise his daughter in the city he loved so much! He graduated from Cleveland Hill High School in 1976 and then went on to graduate from the Machine Shop program at Harkness Vocational Center in 1980. He proudly graduated from Erie Community College in 1983 with a degree in mechanical engineering technology. He went on to work for Elmar Industries for over 35 years before retiring after his first cancer diagnosis. He bravely fought and survived multiple battles with cancer, showing those who loved him what true strength and determination look like. Rick found love again in 2006 when he began dating his late wife, Teresa Keller (nee Liberti). Rick and Teresa married on June 20, 2020. Together, they loved music, traveling, and the Buffalo Bills! Rick and Teresa were the epitome of Buffalo Bills fans and were stellar examples of why Buffalo is called the 'City of Good Neighbors'. They were part of the 'Bills Mafia' long before the phase was dubbed. Ricky was a single father who devoted his entire life to raising his only child, the late Amber Keller, who became an angel on May 14, 2005. Ricky was an inspiration to us all as he bravely persevered through the tragedy that rocked our family to the core. His wisdom and strength inspired us and taught us valuable life lessons, many of which are still carried forward today by his family and friends.. He showed us that grief and healing dont follow a linear or predictable path and the importance of rolling with the punches' life throws our way. Becauseof him we understand that there is no right or wrong way to grieve those we've loved and lost'. He embodied the spirit of the 'one day at a time' mantra, always stressing the importance of being present in ones own life. He taught us that the best way to honor the memory of the dearly departed is to go on to lead happy and fulfilling lives. If he were here today, he'd ask us all to embody the wisdom he intentionally passed on to those he loved. Hes tell us to use our grief and loss as fuel and motivation to help propel us forward to confidentiality pursue our dreams . He showed us that growing, evolving, and learning is what life's all about. Ricky will be remembered for his unwavering dedication to his family and friends, his perseverance in the face of adversity, his unique perspective on education and personal growth, as well as his passion for his community and of course his beloved Buffalo Bills. A memorial service will be held in Ricky's honor on Sunday, August 6th from 1pm-3pm at Lombardo Funeral Home, located at 4614 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14336. Friends, family, and loved ones are invited to attend this commemoration of Ricky's life and to share memories and stories Your browser does not support this video format. You should be able to view it in Chrome, Safari or Internet Explorer.