Zachary Rees Keck

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Zachary Rees Keck, 42, of Princeton, New Jersey, on July 26, 2025. A beloved son, brother, uncle, and friend, Zachary-or Rees, as he was known to friends-will be remembered for his zest for life, adventurous spirit, generous heart, and deep devotion to the people he loved.

Zachary Rees was a man who met life head-on, determined to make the most of every minute and second. New experiences, exploration, travel, curiosity, friends, and family were the sun around which he orbited-and he did so with humor, wit, and every enthusiastic fiber of his being.

Zachary was born on April 6, 1983, in Trenton, New Jersey, and lived much of his life in the New Jersey and Pennsylvania areas. He graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and went on to build a flourishing career at Planview, Inc. In 2019, he purchased a home in Philadelphia, and was most recently living on farmland in Elkton, Maryland, where he was single-handedly converting a school bus into an RV. In true Zachary Rees fashion, he planned to travel the world in it.

He is survived by his parents, Robert Keck and Christina Callaway; his sisters, Lucinda Keck, Elizabeth Keck, and Samantha Fortunato; stepparents Jacqueline Keck and Pete Callaway; brother-in-law Marc Fortunato; nephews Matthew and Luke Fortunato, Tyler and Ryan St. Denis, and Carter Mazarraco; niece Tara Fortunato; and his beloved dog, Ellie. He was preceded in death by his sister, Amanda Keck, and his cherished pets, Jake and Chloe.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to SAVE, A Friend to Homeless Animals, a cause close to Zachary Rees's heart.

"If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And-which is more-you'll be a Man, my son!"

- Excerpt from the poem "If" by Rudyard Kipling