Alfred Joseph Koontz, Jr., 76, Vero Beach
Alfred “Al” Joseph Koontz, Jr., 76, of Vero Beach, passed away peacefully at home on April 16, 2018, surrounded by his loving family, following a long and hard-fought battle with congestive heart failure. He was born on March 6, 1942, in Baltimore, Md., the oldest son of Alfred Joseph Koontz, Sr. and Mary Agnes Valis Koontz.
Al shared a very special and mutual, unconditional love with his entire family and multitude of friends. He was a loving, caring man of great integrity, always trying to bring out the good in others and help them achieve their full potential.
He was a very religious, spiritual man and took immense joy in serving as a Lector and Eucharistic Minister at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Vero Beach.
He was a 1960 graduate of Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and was named First Team State of Maryland Football Defensive Tackle in 1960. He was offered 17 full four year scholarships at major colleges and universities across the country.
He selected The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) and played on the Nittany Lions Team, which played in two Gator Bowls in 1961 and 1962. At 6′ 5″ and 270 pounds, Al was the second largest player on the team at that time and was considered a good prospect for the National Football League, until he sustained injuries to both of his knees.
Al earned his BS degree in Business Administration from Penn State. Upon graduation, he accepted a position with Price Waterhouse, earned his CPA, and was a rising star in the firm’s New York Office.
He later served first as Chief Financial Officer for Piper Aircraft Corporation and later as President of Piper Acceptance Corporation. He completed his full time professional career as the Executive Vice President-Finance and Administration of Todd Shipyards in Seattle, WA.
Upon retirement, Al remained in high demand as a consultant specializing in Corporate Management with a reputation for being skilled at turning around companies that were struggling to succeed. Simultaneously, he founded a father-son pay phone business, Public Telecom Provider (PTT, Inc.), that had over 500 pay phones on the East Coast of Florida.
He so enjoyed mentoring and working with his son, AJ, in the business for several years.
He is survived by his loving wife, Carol Ann, and had looked forward to celebrating their 7th wedding anniversary on April 30, 2018; four children, Debbie Kleban (Rick), of Marietta, Ga., Denise Hall (Ken Paull), of Cohasset, Mass., Stacy Boll (Alex), of Frankfurt, Germany, and Alfred “AJ” Joseph Koontz, III (Kim), of Vero Beach; 12 grandchildren; his brother, Jerry Koontz, of Bradenton, Fla.; sister, Mary Lou Baikauskas, of Baldwin, Md.; brother, Ray Koontz (Nora), of Vero Beach; and many loving nieces and nephews.
He leaves behind his “puppy,” Maggie Mae, whom he loved and who idolized him.
Al was predeceased by his parents and his loving wife, Kay, of 46 years.
A memorial mass is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 24, at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 500 Iris Lane, Vero Beach. Following the Mass, family and friends are invited to a celebration of his life reception at 11:30 a.m. at the Moorings Club, 100 Harbour Drive, Vero Beach.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Alfred Joseph Koontz, Jr. Foundation c/o National Bank of Commerce, 2145 Indian River Blvd., Vero Beach, FL 32960.
Funds will be distributed to individuals who need assistance to further their education.
