Your are missed but find comfort  in having had the opportunity to know you

It was always such a treat to steal a few minutes with Mr. Ceto. He always had an interesting story to share or great insight that would be relevant to one of my projects. He seemed genuinely interested in what I was working on, which always helped to give that work value. His knowledge and expertise will be sorely missed and impossible to replace. I feel privileged to have known him. 


I would like to express my condolences and our thoughts and prayers are with the Ceto Family. I am very grateful for the professional opportunities he provided to me at Ceto and Associates. I will always cherish the memories and stories he told. – Harry Brammell

This photo was taken at the most recent Holiday party, my 16th with Ceto and Associates.  And, if you were to search the company annuals, 15 similar photos would be found, one for each of my years at the firm.  My annual kissing of Mr. Ceto at the Holiday party begun as a potentially bad decision during the company photo. Over the years, it morphed into a game to find and kiss Mr. Ceto during the photo session and ultimately evolved into a company tradition.  And while the kiss was always lighthearted and elicited laughter, it truly was a kiss of love, respect, and admiration for my business mentor for almost half of my life. He will be missed dearly by all that he mentored and touched throughout the years of his illustrious life and will never be forgotten. 

I vividly remember my first time meeting Mr. Ceto. I was a young man interviewing for an open position with Ceto and Associates. Although I was very nervous, he offered a very warm presence and we preceded to spend the next 30 minutes conversing about my hobbies and family. Once hired, Mr. Ceto always made a point to stop by my office and ask me how things were going. I miss our brief conversations and I am thankful that I was able to have met him. I never viewed Mr. Ceto as a boss, but I thought of him as a friend. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends during this difficult time. 

About 5 years ago, I received the biggest blessing when Mr. Ceto brought me into his company. He put his trust in me despite my lack of experience at the time, and it truly changed my life. Little did I know I was gaining a second family, and a network of people that would do anything for me. I am so grateful to have known and learned from Mr. Ceto. I will miss your stories over lunch, your calm and gracious presence, and that infectious smile. One thing I remember that tickles me is the way you would kindly and discretely correct vocabularies just to make us better. Subtly, I think we enjoyed being corrected because Mr. Ceto might spend one minute correcting, and the other ten minutes graciously building you up. He wanted us to be great. At the end of the day we were all better, and driven to be better because of Mr. Ceto. You were such an example to follow, and just a pleasure to be around. Heaven gained one of the greatest in the greatest generation. I pray that our heavenly Father comforts the Ceto family during this time. Although you are truly missed your legacy continues, and we hope to make you proud.

My favorite memory of Mr. Ceto is his genuine thoughtfulness of others.  Anytime we saw each other he was interested to know how I was doing, whether professionally or personally.  And he was always an open book of so much wisdom.  I loved him like a grandfather.  I will miss hearing that infectious laugh and seeing that beautiful smile.  My heart goes out to Mrs. Ceto and the rest of the Ceto family.  May God bless his soul.   

-Joe Wilson

Mr. Ceto was always a warm presence around the office and a steadfast reminder of how a dual focus on family and hard work would reap rewards in life. I always walked away from interactions with Mr. Ceto with a smile on my face. His kind and loving spirit will be greatly missed. 

I echo Robby Monteith's sentiments...Mr. Ceto was truly one of a kind. Ellen, Brooke and I are deeply saddened by his loss, and our prayer is that our Father in Heaven will put his comforting hand on the family in the days, weeks, months and years to come and bless them with precious memories.

Sharing in your sorrow. My sincerest condolences, with love, comfort, and prayers of peace over the Ceto Family.     

Part 2:
Nick also had many passions, including his love for banking, the world of finance and business, current events and world history, travel, people and relationships, and of course, his company…and for those who know him more closely…also, a deep appreciation for New York city, Italian food, John Grisham novels and Frank Sinatra…and certainly a fascination with cars.  He really loved talking about cars.  But of course, his greatest passion…his family, which reached well beyond his wife, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, whom he loved dearly, but also included friends, relatives, business colleagues, and his “extended” family at Ceto and Associates…a great legacy indeed.

Thank you, Nick.  We will miss you greatly.  We will miss your fantastic stories and your compelling insights into life and your perspective on all kinds of interesting topics that surround us daily. You made us think.  You made us smarter.  You made us aspire and work hard.  You made us smile.  You made us laugh.  You made us better. You are family, and we love you.


Part 1:
Nick’s impact on my life is immeasurable.   We met by chance at an early point in my career.  I was only three years removed from college, and at that time, I was at a crossroads still searching for that perfect career journey or opportunity.  It was a relatively short encounter between two strangers meeting for the first time and discussing a simple business transaction, but nonetheless, a transformative, life-altering one.  I was immediately struck by Nick’s curiosity, particularly his curiosity about my life, whether it be my family, interests, or goals.  But that was Nick.  He always had a genuine interest in learning about people and connecting with them.  And it was in that chance meeting and connection that for some reason, encouraged him to take a chance on me, that young kid who was only three years removed from college.  I did not realize at the time, but Nick was inviting me into his family, his extended family, as I like to call it, with the company he founded, Ceto and Associates.  

For 17 years, I had the great privilege of working very closely with Nick, learning about banking, sales and marketing, and the day-to-day operation of running a successful business, but also learning about life.  He had a great passion for knowledge and understanding the world around him.  I always admired Nick for his deep desire to learn and connect with others.  He was not only my boss, but also a friend, mentor and in many ways, another important father figure in my life.  To say that I learned a lot from Nick would be an understatement.  I am so grateful for the time that we had together, including all our illuminating lunches covering topics that spanned the globe, and for all the persistent guidance and support that he provided to me year in and year out.  He was very patient, an outstanding listener, and extraordinarily discerning in his decision making.  In short, he believed in me...and that made all the difference in the world.  

I remember interviewing with Nick to join Ceto and Associates in the capacity of a consulting manager within the Clear Point product line. He was on vacation visiting family and he told me that I must be special because he does not like to step away from family for discussions like this. I really appreciated the opportunity he gave me at a time in my life when I needed a purpose. He was always kind and had nothing but encouraging words for me within the work I did. I will miss our conversations about how the banking industry is continuing to change.

Nick will be greatly missed.   I was fortunate to work for him at Ceto & Associates.   A great guy, smart, honest, and always willing to share some great stories.   My condolences to his family & friends.

I am so grateful that I had the privilege of knowing Mr. Ceto and working closely with him. He always came into the office with a smile on his face and often a story to share. I had to stay on my toes because he loved to challenge me with insightful questions about whatever I would present to him. I considered it an honor when I felt like I had earned his trust. He loved his family more than anything and was an incredibly generous man. He definitely lived life to the fullest. When I first started with the company, I remember coming home and telling my husband about the 85-year-old founder of the company who drove a red Ferrari. I will remember him with great love and respect.

So sad to hear of Mr. Ceto’s passing. He left quite the legacy and I am grateful to have met him and the Ceto family. Thoughts and prayers to the entire family. 

Nick was an exceptional husband, father, grandfather and friend. I have such wonderful memories being at the Ceto's home!  Nick and Marge welcomed Cheryl Ann's friends into their home and treated us like family! You could always count on Nick for solid advice or a great story!  The love and devotion he and Marge had for each other and for their family, is truly an example for the ages. 
My love and prayers are with the Ceto family, now and always. 
Leslie Ann Holbrook

I met Nick, Mr Ceto, at his home in Buckhead in 1981. I remember it quite well. He was so very nice, a real gentleman, a father figure. I was only 16 at the time and there to see his daughter Cheryl. He knew that and was accommodating, inviting. He made me feel comfortable which was what he did with everyone. Nick was simply a nice man. No one would ever deny this. A good man, a moral man , a man you'd want to spend an afternoon with. I know we will all miss his smile and his jovial personality. May God be with him . 

May the special memories of dear Nick always be in your hearts and minds, now and forever. 
With our love and deepest sympathy.
Edgar and Judith 


So sad to hear about your Family's loss. Thoughts and prayers sent. I worked several consulting assignments with Nick years ago. I also worked at KPMG many years ago.

                                 Uncle Nick,         January 2022
     We are celebrating your Aceto/Ceto history/legacy. Eternally filled with your infused close Ceto family love. 
      May your future travels ahead be paved and dominated by the love and joy of your entire family, eternal spirit of charity,  fast, and beautiful, comfortable cars.  Follow your dreams while you continue to secure a smooth path ahead for your Ceto crew to come. 
       Our deepest gratitude for being a tribute, and setting the tone for your warm loving family, as well as a lasting inspirational, intelligent, respected man to good people, and for keeping our dreams alive.
       Hugs to your family who have already begun to pave the road ahead for you.
                 We love you forever ❤️
Mel, Cheryll, Dustin and Emma Frazier
Olympia, WA   

I remember Uncle Nick fulfilled an item on my husband’s bucket list by taking him on a fast ride in his Ferrari. They both came back with huge smiles and my husband confessed that Uncle Nick opened it up on the back roads. Boys will be boys no matter what age.

You will be missed
Charmaine


Visitation

Memorial Service

Survived by his wife Marge and his children; Nick and wife Mary, Tom and wife Alyssa, Joyce Lynne and husband Robert, Cheryl Ann, and Douglas and Amie; 16 grandchildren; Steven, Kristin, Douglas, Courtney, Brian, Jason, Jeffrey, Michael, Tyler, Haley, Will, Hunter, Isabella, Nicholas, Andrew and Anthony; and 2 great grandchildren; Corbin and Giada.

OBITUARY

Nicholas Ceto, Jr.

29 November, 1933 – 8 January, 2022

H.M. Patterson & Son-Arlington Chapel

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