J.A. Kessler Jr

J.A. Kessler Jr., age 90, passed away on September 28, 2018, at his home in Charlottesville. Buddy is survived by his wife of nearly 67 years, Kate; and his three children, Sally Kessler of Alexandria, Va., Sue Kessler McConaughy and her husband, David, of Newport News, Va., and Jay Kessler and his wife, Barbara, of Charlottesville. He was born in 1927, in Tampa, Fla., to J. Arthur Kessler Sr. and Inez B. Kessler. Buddy attended Yale University, where he played on the tennis team and graduated in 1948 with a degree in Civil Engineering and an Army ROTC commission. During 2 tours of duty with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, he served on Okinawa and later the Aleutian Islands. Moving to Charlottesville in 1959 to join R.E. Lee & Son, Inc. as a project manager, he remained with the company for 40 years, serving as President and later as a director of Piedmont Virginia Companies, Inc. until his retirement. During his tenure, the company renovated the Rotunda at the University of Virginia in time for the 1976 bicentennial celebration. He was a member of the Associated General Contractors and served one term as president of the Virginia chapter. Buddy was appointed to three terms on the Charlottesville School Board, the first from 1966-69 and later for consecutive terms in 1973 and 1976. He was President of the Chamber of Commerce in 1972 and served on the board of directors of Jefferson Bankshares. He was a member of Congregation Beth Israel. Buddy lived in the hope that the UVA basketball team would win a National Championship, the Washington Nationals would win the World Series and the next bottle of wine opened would be the best ever. He will be remembered for his hospitality, generosity and appreciation of a good story. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Community Endowment at the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 1767, Charlottesville, VA 22902; www.cacfonline.org. On Wednesday, October 10, 2018, there will be a private burial. The family will welcome friends at Farmington Country Club from 4 until 6 p.m. that evening. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.hillandwood.com.