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Gary Key Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Gary Key
Becky Davis Greenwell
December 25, 2023
I remember Mr. Key as the generous and gregarious father of my friend, Lisa. As Lisa and her family visit tomorrow, I think of this man. He had a larger than life personality, a penchant for burgandy house robes and red wines (maybe these two facts went together); The Far Side; and Calvin & Hobbes. He was also a staunch patriot; likely due in part to his pride of being a descendant of Francis Scott Key. Mr. Key was a true intellectual and a certified blue blood...but with great humor. I was always in awe in his presence. To an original!
Mark Schmalz
April 9, 2019
It's difficult to believe that Gary has been gone for six years ... what a wonderful, kind, and brilliant man!! Gary was a great friend and a very impressive colleague, and I still miss him. Occasionally, I reach for the phone and attempt to dial his number, because I want to say "...hey Gary, can you believe this?" And he would reply, "Ya don't say, Perfesser!! Well, let's talk about this one..." Memories :)
Sean Barrett
June 6, 2013
Gary hired me out of college because he saw "a twinkle in my eye". I tried to never let him down. We worked together for ADI before Ball Aerospace aquired them and I transferred to Hawaii. Through the years and the miles we stayed friends. He left his mark with me.
Betty Westerfeld
May 26, 2013
May all of Gary's family take solace in the many loving and funny memories of a great Dad and son. He cherished all of you. Gary and I were friends from his days at Georgia Tech and stayed in touch during the years. RIP, Gary.
Terry Keller
April 26, 2013
Here is an amusing story about when Gary and I were at the CIA. We were taking courses at George Washington University during the work day several days of the week. We would take a bus from the CIA over to GWU to take the courses then ride back on the bus to continue our work day. One particular day we went to a graduate level complex variables math course in which we were both enrolled. After we came back on the bus, we decided to stop in at the CIA cafeteria for something to eat. Then we went back to work. A few hours later Gary gets a call from CIA security. They ask him to come down to the security office. They tell him that he had left his briefcase under the cafeteria table where we ate. Someone spotted it and reported it to security. There was a lot of concern at that time since the Pentagon package bombing and other incidents had recently occurred. Security carried the briefcase away on a long pole presumably by blast protection suited personnel. They x-rayed the briefcase and saw a long coil of wire that they feared could have been part of a detonator. It was actually Gary's spiral notebook. Taking no chances, security personnel took the "device" to the newly installed bomb disposal pit, slapped a charge on it and set it off. At Gary's interview with security, they gave him the what was left of the contents of his briefcase back and a stern warning to be more careful. For all the years afterwards Gary had kept the two text books that were inside the blasted briefcase as his mementos of the occasion. They are both shaped like hemispheres from the blast.
Gary with his two granddaughters
April 18, 2013
Gary and son Tom at daughter Amy's wedding
April 18, 2013
April 18, 2013
Tim Krenz
April 18, 2013
My professional career began with a job interview at Gary and Kathy's beautiful home in the Albuquerque foothills. His humor was immediately evident when he asked me at the entrance to "please excuse the boulder in the foyer, we're replacing it shortly". The house was built around the huge boulder after it was positioned, of course! Gary always had a calm affect, and was a kind, thoughtful mentor and friend. His intellect was rather stunning, as he had quite a commend of physics, engineering, IT, music, history, politics and English. He taught the fledgling members of his technical staff the very valuable skill of Technical Writing. He often rewarded us with a toast at the "venerable Amfac Hotel" (in his words) after we completed a document deliverable to our client. He always insisted on taking the bill. He always was so generous. Before he left Albuquerque, he asked me to name a useful tool I hadn't acquired for working on my rental apartments. To lighten his move to Florida, he gifted me his Craftsman reciprocating saw. I still use it today, and I think of arm-wrestling Gary when I wrestle the saw around a target. Thank you Gary for your tutelage and friendship. Rest in peace, kind soul.
Joel Davis
April 16, 2013
I remember Gary from the "early days" when both ADI and Verac were bought by Ball Aerospace, then merged. I mostly remember the number of interesting stories he had to tell. I gather he was quite the adventurer in his younger days. R.I.P.
Kenneth Miller
April 15, 2013
Gary hired me straight out of college to work for Analytic Decisions Incorporated (ADI). I appreciated his mentorship and encouragement as I learned how to perform analysis and write reports. Gary always had a keen sense of humor. I remember him quoting "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" where it described how a spaceship floated in exactly the way that bricks don't. Gary took his staff to very nice dinners on several occasions, and he always had interesting stories to tell. He was a very smart man who was well cultured in classical music and wine, but also enjoyed less cultured things like British comedy. When I knew him, he had a wonderful wife and children and really seemed to enjoy life. I felt like I knew someone famous when I learned he was related to Francis Scott Key. Gary was a hard worker and well respected in the scientific community. Gary, you will be missed by a lot of people.
April 15, 2013
To the "other part of my family" the Keys. I've known Gary since 1986 or 1987 when I first moved to NM. He was my first "boss" but turned out to be a best friend along with his family. He was always joking, always supportive of me, always kind, caring, considerate, thoughtful, generous and compassionate. I never knew ANYONE like him. We talked about EVERYTHING and discussed me moving down there to retire. I kept telling him I'd get him to walk on the beach and get stronger. I never went. I'll ALWAYS regret that. He even told me "If you had come out here I KNOW you'd get me out and about, etc." He always sent me big jars of organic suckers too even when I wasn't sick anymore. I wish you didn't leave us so soon Gary I would have come out there. I missed your whole family and still do. I love you all. I'll never, ever forget you my dear friend. Please stay in touch as only you can. I can't wait to see you again. All my love to you eternally, Sue. May God and all your angels hold all of you (Gary and family) tightly and give you healing love, strength, courage, and peace. Love and light, Sue Brown
David Williams
April 14, 2013
I met Gary when he first came to Georgia Tech in 1966. I was a freshman and he was a sophomore. We both co-oped (worked every other quarter) for the CIA. He stayed with them for several years, and I went to work for the Georgia Tech Computer Center. Our lives drifted apart, and for many years we kept in sporadic touch. He was definitely an influential person in my life.
April 14, 2013
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A very young Gary
Gary Key
April 14, 2013
Judy DeSmet
April 14, 2013
Lisa, for you and all of your family, my thoughts are with you.
Ron Shroder
April 13, 2013
An amazing man in every way. Gary was one of the first people at FTI to mentor me. His clear insight was work hard at work, but keep it in perspective . . . your family comes first. He would constantly make sure I kept that my priority. As we talked through the next 18 years, his love for the intellectual challenge was only surpassed by the love for his Mother, Brother, 3 Children and Grand Kids. Thank you to his family for sharing Gary with us . . . His legacy will go on indefinitely. Gary, I will miss our conversations and emails. Keep watching over us.
Aimee Randall-Culp
April 13, 2013
I knew Gary through my best childhood friend,his daughter Amy. We lived just a couple of houses away from each other. I never called him Gary, it was always Mr. Key, even up to last time we talked over Facebook a couple of months ago. I will always remember that he liked to listen to classical music, which made me appreciate it more. He built a "clubhouse" for all of us to play in, and it was even two storied!. I will miss him deeply.
Mark Schmalz
April 13, 2013
Gary was a wonderful friend for almost 30 years, and a great encourager of my work for over 15 years. Gary, his kindness, good humor, and generosity will be sorely missed.
Benjamin Bernard
April 12, 2013
Gary, you were a wonderful person to work with. You stood up for people when they needed it, you helped me get into grad school (I just finished it last August), and you always had really good ideas for taking projects in new directions. You will be sorely missed. Rest in peace, friend.
Terry and Nanci Keller
April 12, 2013
Gary and I first met when we began our careers at the CIA in the early 70's. We found out that we had grown up 70 miles apart and also had brand new families and common interests. We were soon close friends. Over the next forty years Gary and I worked together at four employers across the country, and our families grew up together. Gary has always been generous to a fault, a true intellectual, loved his children and remained true to his friends. I will miss my old friend.
Lew Larson
April 12, 2013
I have known Gary for more than three decades as fellow workmates, playmates and best of friends. Liz and I shared his love of music, comedy, and most of the time, politics. He has left a very large hole in our hearts and our lives.
Roger & Nancy Burroughs
April 12, 2013
A kind, gentle, generous man who loved his children is our memory of Gary. Our thoughts and prayers are with you in this time of sorrow.
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