Keith A. Banister
10/11/1952 – 1/19/2022
Keith passed away unexpectedly at the age of 69.
There will be no service per his wishes. Instead, he will be laid to rest at one of his favorite spots by his family.
He is survived by his daughters Missy Butler (Bill) and Jen Zugnoni (Rick), beloved Son to Elizabeth and Robert Banister (predeceased), siblings David Banister (Marty-predeceased), Barbara Clement (Paul) and Tom Banister (predeceased)(Robin) and many Grandchildren, Nieces, Nephews and Friends.
He retired from the USPS after over 30 years.
He served in the Navy for 4 years and was a proud Vietnam Vet.
He was involved with the Masons.
He was talented in many ways including his artistic abilities.
He loved nature and outdoor activities. One of these being a Falconer.
He was always up for new adventures…All of his loved ones knew what a free spirit he was.
He will be greatly missed…
Keith and I graduated from Penfield in 1970. We rode the same school bus ,played together , knew the whole family.We ran into each other in 2010 at a class reunion and we’ve been dining and vacationing together ever since. (Debbie and I ). Keith has been a very special friend to us and we’ve done quite a bit together. He’s one of the kindest men that I’ve ever known. Our sincere condolences to to the family.He will truly be missed..🌹
Hi Diane. My Father told me of some of the adventures that he went on with you. Thank you for being there for him. And thank you for the kind words. Yes, he will be truly missed.
I worked with Keith at the old Midtown Post Office . He was definitely one of the funniest guys I’ve ever had the pleasure to be around. His stories about his adventures were always hysterical and he was always so helpful to me. We spent some time up at our cabin and he made work seem like fun no matter how hard the projects were. He never backed away from a challenge and made hours seem like minutes with his humor. He was a loyal friend and reached out frequently to talk or just say hello. Our plans were to go back up north once the spring arrived so we could revisit some of the memories we had together. My condolences go out to his family and I’ll be forever grateful for knowing such a person.
Hi Joe. Yes, my Father definitely had a sense of humor and made work seem fun….he was always up for a challenge. I know he would have loved to revisit old memories with you. Thank you for your kind words. He will be greatly missed.
This really hurts!
Keith and I met when he was the mailman on our street over on David Ave., in Brighton. It was the first house I had purchased with 2 of my best friends, (Dan and James). It needed a LOT of work. In some ways we were in over our heads, especially when it came to stone work. Keith would see us trying our best and could not help but notice our lack of abilities. He always stopped to talk to us while delivering our mail and offered his help. As anyone who knew Keith will tell you, he was quick to offer his help.
One day he showed up after his work day to give me a hand, and he had a fly fishing shirt on. In a very heterosexual way, it was true love! :-).
It turned out we shared many an interest but it was fly fishing that was the hook, it lasted 25+ years.
We went fly fishing on Oatka Creek, Maxwell Creek, Lake Ontario, Canadice Lake, Hemlock Lake (years earlier in his life Hemlock Lake was the scene of one of his great hunting stories and the buck that almost got away, but not from Keith! If you had time with Keith you probably heard the story. Determination!!), Black Creek, Lake Ontario…
We worked together building patios and walkways. He was a great teacher and put a lot of trust in a young guy, driving his equipment. He treated me like a partner despite it being his business. I always appreciated his trust and generosity over those Summers.
One of the things I remember most was on 9/11, quite a few years after we first met. We were going to be working together that day on a job and I was going to get things going early. I happened to be watching CNBC in the morning with my friend Dan, when it all went down. Later that day I went to Keith’s house and we decided to just stay there and watch the news and have a drink. I rarely drink but I think that day I had more than one.
Oh, and we both LOVED SUSHI! Not only enjoyed many a Sushi lunch or dinner at places like the Tokyo House but, we also decided to become Sushi chefs, a bit of a fail but it was always fun!
Keith was nearly 20 years older than me but I never felt a day different when we were together. Still, he had years more life experience to share. Some of those years were painful, Keith had his battles. I think it was those battles, the issues that grew from pain, that he wanted me to avoid in my still young life.
I do not know Keith’s daughters in person but I sure do know about you. Maybe you have heard of me as well. I do know one thing, he always talked about his girls and how much he loved them. He often told me to never make the same mistakes he felt he had, if I was so lucky to have children some day. I did (3 children) and I never forgot his words. I hope they know how much you were a part of him and how much he loved you, even when it was from a distance.
To Keith’s mom, I was fortunate enough to have met you a few times many years ago. You should know that you were his foundation, the person he knew he could count on through ups and downs. I am so sorry for your loss of Keith (and Tom). I cannot imagine the pain, but I hope you know how much you kept Keith going. He could not say enough good things about his Mom.
To all of his siblings and extended family, I am so sorry for your loss!
Over the years I started a business that grew well, met the perfect girl and started a family…life got busy. Getting together went from fly fishing to Sushi lunch/dinners, to less and less frequent phone calls to the occasional texts and promises of getting together. We did not see much of each other over the last 10 years like we should have. I know this is mostly my fault. He always reminded me of the time I said he worked to much and needed to take time to fly fish. I wish I had listened.
We spoke mid December about Sushi lunch in early January. I guess I got busy again. I remembered and sent a text this past Monday asking how we missed another Sushi lunch and to set it up for sure in the next few day.. I did not get a reply. Sadly I now know why.
It is always after that we recognize the time we miss.
I will miss my friend, but I will always remember how lucky I was to have him in my life.
-Kurt
Hi Kurt. My Father did mention you to me years ago. I know he saw you as a good friend. I’m not surprised that he stopped all those years ago to help you at your house. His stone work was amazing. It sounds like you had many of the same interests….He loved to cook and try new recipes. Personally, I am not a fan of Sushi…even though I have never tried it…lol. But I know he was always up to try something new. And he absolutely loved the outdoors….from fishing to Falconry to just about anything. That is why he will be laid to rest in some of his favorite outdoor spots. You are right when you say that he was fighting battles. I’m afraid that these battles got the best of him some days. We all wish there was something that we could have done. But as his obituary states, he was a free spirit. Your words made me cry and I am thankful for them. He was lucky to have you in his life as well.
I loved and love you Keith until we meet again my dearest love. You were on the way back home and this happens. At our age we found true love.Like you wrote we had some good and peaceful times. A misunderstanding separated us but we will be together again.Keith was a very good,,understandable loving person you just had to find it within him and think I did but our life’s in this world were shortened. I miss you so so much. Maria