July 8 - Keith Pitcher inspired many new professionals during his 13 years leading the Chamber of Commerce for Anderson & Madison County. Keith retired from the profession in June and passed away today after an extended illness.

He was born July 24, 1939, in Detroit, Mich., and graduated in 1957 from Denby High School in Mich. He moved to Anderson in 1986, when he was appointed Director of Public Relations for Delco Remy.

In 1992, Keith joined the staff of Community Hospital of Anderson as Director of Community Relations and the foundation. In February of 1997, he became President of the Chamber of Commerce for Anderson and Madison County, retiring in 2009.

Keith was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and had served in the U.S. Air Force.

During his years in Anderson, he served on several boards and committees, including the United Way of Madison County, Leadership Academy of Madison County, Corporation for Economic Development, Anderson/Madison County Visitors and Convention Bureau, Crime Stoppers, Madison Health Partner, Anderson Symphony Orchestra, Anderson Rotary Club, where he recently received the Community Image Award, Little 500 Festival Committee, Anderson Fine Arts Center, Second Harvest Food Bank and International Festival of Arts and Culture. At United Way, he served as both campaign chair and board chair and was named Volunteer of the Year in 2001. Keith also helped the Boy Scouts of America in Sakima District with the annual Friends of Scouting campaign and helped recruit some key volunteers for district leadership.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia M. Pitcher of Anderson; daughter, Ellen M. Pitcher of Plymouth; son, Kevin M. (wife, Stasia) Pitcher of Ypsilanti, Mich.; two grandsons, Shane M. and Luke J. Pitcher; sister, Jeannette (husband, Gordon) Weiland of Rockford, Mich.; sisters-in-law, Sister Margaret Hoey SMR of Riverview, Mich., Janet M. (husband, Gene) Robinson of Sylvania, Ohio, Mary Hoey of Novi, Mich., Adelene Hoey of Royal Oak, Mich., and Grace Hoey of Bloomfield Hills, Mich.; brother-in-law, Robert W. (wife, Evelyn) Hoey of Detroit, Mich.; and 23 nieces and nephews.

Keith was preceded in death by his parents, Clive and Adeline (Hirsch) Pitcher; father-in-law and mother-in-law, John T. Sr. and Bernadine (Gavin) Hoey; brothers-in-law, John T. Hoey, Jr., Donald E. Hoey and James J. Hoey; sister-in-law, Elizabeth Hoey; and close friends, Felix and Mildred Purol.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 1115 Pearl St., Anderson, with Father Robert Williams officiating. Cremation will take place and burial will be at East Maplewood Cemetery at a later date.

Visitation will be from 2 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Brown-Butz-Diedring Funeral Home, 515 E. 53rd St., Anderson, and from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at the church. A Vigil Service will be conducted at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Church or the Madison County United Way.