Keith B Abrams

Keith Brian Abrams passed away at Mount Sinai West Hospital in Manhattan on Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at the age of 77, after a valiant decade-long battle against Parkinson’s disease. He surrounded himself with family and friends throughout his life and his final moments were no different. Keith is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Riva Fisher Abrams; his children, Marc Abrams (Virginia Lam Abrams), David Abrams (Debbie Birnbaum Abrams), Nicole Abrams Copquin (Marcelo Copquin); and his grandchildren, Henry, Benjamin, Julie, Gabriela, Oren and Edie. Keith is also survived by his sister, Roleen Stone, and two younger brothers, Denis Abrams and Jonathan Abrams and their families.

Keith was born in Johannesburg, South Africa on June 17, 1946. He attended Saxonwold Primary School and Parktown Boys High School where he devoted himself to a life of playful mischief along with his two brothers and friends, occasionally taking the time to attend to his studies. He next attended the University of the Witwatersrand (“WITS”), where he became a diligent student graduating with a degree in Chemical Engineering. Keith also obtained a master’s in business administration from the University of South Africa. But, it was at WITS where he met Riva Fisher, who would become the love of his life for more than 52 years. He was devoted to her until his last breath.

While attending business school, Keith joined the family business, then a fledgling company named Buffalo Salt, that had been started by his father Nathaniel. Not long afterward, his two brothers, Denis and Jonathan joined the company. Together, the Abrams family built Buffalo Salt into a diversified consumer packaged goods company that eventually became the largest closely held food company in South Africa when it was sold in 1986, prior to the family emigrating to the United States. In the United States, the next family chapter began with Keith, his father and brothers acquiring a small regional paint company called SL Gillman Paint, which they grew and scaled into a national paint company and eventually sold to Benjamin Moore, where Keith worked until his retirement in 2000.

Keith had many passions but chief among them were his family and friends. He kept abreast of almost every issue impacting his children, grandchildren, siblings, extended family and friends, always offering his unwavering support and frank advice, from the comfort of his home on the Upper West Side or what was called his “office,” his favorite neighborhood coffee shop. He always made time for everyone, always chatting and making new friends wherever he went. For over 20 years, Keith and Riva would travel around the world for a reunion with childhood friends, picking a new and exotic location each year. But Keith was famous for his phone calls. He was perpetually on the phone speaking with friends and family and without fail, he spoke daily to his siblings. His phone was his connection to the world and all the people he loved and as his disease progressed and especially during COVID, allowed him to remain active in his family and friends lives, even if he could not see them in person.

Keith was an avid traveler, visiting 96 countries with Riva, his faithful if occasionally less enthusiastic companion. He was a power traveler, up early and always with a packed itinerary of interesting places to visit. He loved history and craved learning and took every opportunity to seek out new experiences and information.

Keith had a deep passion for Israel and its people having visited Israel shortly after the Six Day War. He studied the Holocaust with patience and rigor reading libraries of books on the subject and supported many Jewish causes including the Jewish National Fund and the Yad Vashem World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem.

His other religion was Liverpool Football Club and he made many pilgrimages to Anfield with his children and grandchildren.

Keith battled Parkinson’s Disease for twelve years with unrelenting courage and discipline, refusing to let this cruel disease define him or his life. He will be mourned, missed and fondly remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him, loving him and being touched by his love and kindness.

Funeral and Burial Service will be held on Sunday, December 10, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at Cedar Park & Beth El Cemeteries in Paramus, New Jersey. The Abrams Family will sit Shiva on Sunday, December 10, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at 101 West End Avenue, Manhattan and Monday, December 11, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Marc & Virginia’s Home at 653 Bergen Street, Brooklyn.

The family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donation in honor of Keith’s memory to the Jewish National Fund or Yad Vashem World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem.