Sydney Sylvan Kemper

On April 3, 2014 Sydney Sylvan Kemper, beloved husband of Isobel Lebow Kemper; devoted father of Donna Kemper (Ron Zlotoff), Alice Kemper, Lewis Kemper (Heidi Satter), Ellen Kemper (Ken Hughes), adored grandfather of Logan Kemper, Mia Chavez, Alisa Fine (Aaron), Daniel Zlotoff (Sarah), Ben Zlotoff, and the late Christopher Chavez, great-grandfather of Lucia Katrina and Nathaniel Fine, devoted brother to the late Daniel, Paul, Emma and Morris Kemper. Interment will be April 6, noon at Star of David Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. Please omit flowers. Contributions in his memory may be sent to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Attention: Daniel Kemper HOPE Fund, 100 Painters Mill Rd Ste 800 Owings Mill, MD 21117 or online at www.lls.org. Online you must designate to Maryland Chapter in Memory of Sydney Kemper and include HOPE fund.

Sydney truly achieved the American dream during his 91 years. As a first generation American, working at a young age at the family hardware store, he cajoled debtors into contracted service, providing them work while ensuring payment of store debts. Ultimately this talent flourished into Kemper Remodeling and then Welsh Construction Remodeling Company, a 50-year-old respected Baltimore general contracting business managed by Sydney until he retired at age 88. Many of his 60+ employees worked with Sydney for decades. He also held the honor of president of the Maryland Improvement Contractors Association and his jobs won many awards over the years.

As a young man, Sydney served as a Merchant Marine during World War II traveling to South America and other shores. This whet his appetite for his extensive world travels with his wife Isobel during their 66-year marriage.

Though Sydney never completed college he supported his four children to obtain degrees. His entrepreneurial spirit influenced each, as an adult, to work independently with passion. He tended to his sister and mother as they aged. He encouraged his nieces and nephews and later his grandchildren to achieve their academic and professional goals.

Sydney is remembered as loyal, dependable, devoted, honest, sincere, and for his sense of humor. Sydney Kemper is a rare individual -- admired by all that knew him and loved by so many.