Valdemar Christian Keckin

February 12, 1938 – February 24, 2021

Beloved husband and father Val Keckin passed away on February 24, 2021 at the age of 83. He died peacefully at UCLA Ronald Reagan Hospital.

Val was born on February 12, 1938 to Waldemar and Marie Keckin. They welcomed their firstborn at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Los Angeles. Native Angeleno would be a proud designation that he would always be happy to claim.

Val graduated from Hamilton High School in Los Angeles and went on to attend several higher education venues such as UCLA, Cal, Santa Monica College culminating in graduation from the University of Southern Mississippi or “Southern Miss” as it is known in athletic parlance these days. As an aside, it was also the place where he would meet the love of his life and future wife, Amanda “Mandy”.

Professional football was his life’s dream and would be the next step in Val’s future as he was drafted by the Green Bay Packers as a quarterback. Other teams would also be part of Val’s career path such as the famed 1963 Chicago Bears who won the world championship and the San Diego Chargers.

After football, Val would go on to a career in life insurance and pension plan management while along the way having a part in various real estate endeavors.

Hawaii called in 1986 where he and his wife would go to begin a career in casualty insurance and to administer the Hawaii Carpenters Union Insurance Benefit Program. He also obtained an MBA with Honors from Pepperdine University. He would return to San Diego in 2003 to become a financial consultant with A. G. Edwards and ending with Laurel Wealth Advisors in La Jolla, CA.

One of his most satisfying roles that he played was as a youth mentor and coach to football programs in Santa Monica. He will be remembered by many of those young men as someone who took time to share his sports knowledge with them and one who took pride in seeing their accomplishments later in life.

Val was predeceased by his mother and father, Walt and Marie Keckin and his sister Antoinette.

He is survived by his wife Amanda and his children Yale (Claire) Keckin, Brady Keckin and Hardy Keckin. In addition, he was the proud grandfather of six grandchildren, Sacha, Shane, Emma, Dane, Hannah and Cora.

He was so precious to those who loved him, and he will never be forgotten by those whose lives he touched.

Due to Covid restrictions, a private memorial service will be held at Gates, Kingsley, Gates Culver City at a later date.

If you would like to give in his memory, please consider a donation to the Salvation Army.