Keith Ulrich Whittingham, 74, of Suffern, N.Y., passed away on April 26, 2017 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, following a brief hospitalization.
Keith was born in New York City on Dec. 13, 1942.
He graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology of the State University of New York (SUNY) with an associate’s degree in textile design. Keith continued his higher education at SUNY-New Paltz, where he received a bachelor’s degree, and then earned a master’s degree in education from SUNY-Albany.
He loved working with teenagers and taught art at the high-school level in Washington, D.C., and Pittsburgh.
Returning to New York, Keith would go on to work for SUNY-Albany, where he served as the head of the financial aid department. He would later return to FIT in Manhattan, where he worked as an admissions officer and as an applications specialist for arts majors.
He was predeceased by his parents, Basil and Louise (Hickman) Whittingham, and by a brother, Basil Whittingham, and sister, Barbara Banks.
Keith leaves his son, Christopher Paul Whittingham; his former wife and close friend, Maria Luisa Whittingham; his nephew Barrett Whittingham; and nieces Michelle Morgan and Claudia Whittingham.
A talented artist, Keith will also be remembered as a good man and loving father.
His loving soul will live with us always.
A celebration honoring the life of Keith Ulrich Whittingham will be held from noon to 3 p.m. May 6 at the Nyack Seaport in Nyack, N.Y.