Howard Goldberg

Goldberg was CEO of Howard Keys, the international key company he founded in Boston before relocating its headquarters to Charlotte in 1989.

He was born on January 20, 1943 in Lowell, Massachusetts, a son of the late Samuel and Evelyn Gleckman Goldberg. He attended Babson College and worked for a number of years with his family’s business before embarking on his life’s passion of creating and building his company, which would later include distribution centers in Canada and Nevada.

Howard Keys has become a familiar sight in major big box stores with the company’s unique key shapes and iconic images, including rights to highly popular Disney, Kellogg’s and Garfield brands, among many others.

Goldberg was the quintessential entrepreneur who began his career selling key cutting machines. While learning the trade, Goldberg saw an opportunity to create a niche industry selling automobile keys to car dealerships, and began growing the company’s designer key collection.

Howard was an avid reader who enjoyed weekly tennis matches at Olde Providence Racquet Club, travel with his wife, Judy, and daily walks with the couple’s beloved dogs, Coco, Lucy and Jack.

One of Goldberg's greatest joys was spoiling his 12 grandchildren. He took special delight in family gatherings during the holidays. He was a man of enormous generosity, quick-witted and remarkably wise, but above all else, humble and kind.

He is survived by his wife of nearly nine years, Judy Dick Goldberg; his brother, Norman Goldberg of Boston, MA; his sons, Jamie (Susanna) of Madison, Wisconsin and Andrew (Trish) of Winston-Salem, N.C.; daughter, Jill Hoar De Galvan (Damien) of Milton, MA; stepchildren, Natalie Chepul (Pete) of Charlotte, N.C. and Harland Dick (Jennifer) of Charlotte, N.C.; nephew, Max Goldberg of New York, N.Y; and niece, Katie Goldberg of Boston, MA.

A private service to celebrate his life was held at the historic Hebrew Cemetery in Charlotte, N.C.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Society of Charlotte or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Charlotte.

The family wishes to express their gratitude to Hospice and Palliative Care of the Charlotte Region for their support and compassion during Howard’s illness.