Stephen John Ketterer

Stephen John Ketterer, of Alpharetta, GA, passed away on November 18, 2024. He was born and raised in the Bronx before moving to Rye, New York where he attended high school, playing on the baseball and basketball teams. He graduated with the Rye High School class of '48 and then enrolled at Colgate University where he earned an undergraduate degree with the class of '52. Subsequently, he attended grad school at night at NYU, where he earned his MBA. Steve was a member of the Phil Delta Theta fraternity at Colgate.
After college, Steve served in the US military. He is a Korean War Combat Veteran with the US Army 5th Regimental Combat Team. Sadly, one of his good friends who he fought with in the war was the last American soldier killed in combat in Korea.
Steve served his community alongside multiple non-profits – on the board of the Cave Creek YMCA, as a driver for Foothills Caring Corps, and, as a volunteer with the Downtown Urban Community Kids (DUCK) of Phoenix.
Steve and his wife Sandy made Scottsdale their home for 28 years, and, he attended Desert Hills Presbyterian Church.
A very skilled baseball pitcher, he was offered a contract to pitch for the NY Giants (before the Giants moved to San Francisco) which, at his father's urging, he declined in order to attend college. He enjoyed a lifetime love of baseball, as a star pitcher for the Colgate baseball team and then as an influential Little League and Babe Ruth baseball coach, coaching multiple players who played professionally. He was also an accomplished golfer.
Steve was an extremely loyal employee, and worked for Mobil Oil his entire career, steadily rising through the ranks to eventually become the GM of worldwide Corporate Purchasing. In that role, he managed hundreds of people and travelled the world many times over.
Steve is preceded in death by his parents, Stephen and Emma Ketterer, and his sister Carol Stringer.
Steve is survived by his beloved wife Sandra Ketterer, and, the mother of his children Judy (Klabundy) Ketterer, their children Stephen Ketterer (Ignacio Ramirez), Robert Ketterer, Laurie DiFrancesco (Lawrence) and Douglas Ketterer (LeAnn and their boys – Steve's grandson's Axel and Oliver); and, his sister Doris VonGlahn.
Steve was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in 2020, and, fought for 4 long years.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to The Leukemia And Lymphoma Society. https://www.lls.org/ways-to-give?ds_rl=1278572&gad_source=1&ds_rl=1278572&gclid=Cj0KCQiAu8W6BhC-ARIsACEQoDCdtyB_XdvjhShiGSiAjPerwYd2jb9w96L2faSIbUx190l7twGPy7UaApmrEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds