Ralph Drew Kistler

Ralph Drew Kistler, age 90, of Providence Point, formerly of Mt. Lebanon, passed away on November 30, 2022 after a very full life. Drew was born on April 25, 1932 in Chicago to Ralph and Lillian Kistler.  Drew and his older sister Laurielle grew up in northern NJ; Hinsdale, IL; and Pittsburgh, PA.  He graduated from Mt. Lebanon High School in 1950 and The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1954 with a BS in Economics.  While at Penn, he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) and served as President his senior year.  Later, he was President of both the Penn Alumni Society of Pittsburgh and The Wharton Club. He married Mary Virginia Simpson in November of 1954, joined IBM early in 1955 in Sales, Electric Accounting Machine Division, which later became the Data Processing Division.  He became a marketing manager of the Pittsburgh IBM commercial office and left IBM on May 1, 1969 to join Simpson, Emery & Co., Inc., a securities broker and dealer.  He became President of Simpson, Emery in 1974 and joined Hefren-Tillotson in 1980.  He became President of Hefren-Tillotson in 1983 and retired as Vice Chairman in 2013.  Drew served on the boards of Chambersburg Engineering, Hempfield Foundries Inc., Pittsburgh Playhouse, Pittsburgh Opera, and Masterplan Inc.  Drew was a member of the Duquesne Club and past President of St. Clair Country Club. Drew loved golf and played three days a week for more than 50 years.  He enjoyed the competition and he always insisted everyone putt out - no gimmes.  Drew and Mary loved to travel, visiting many countries by land and sea, taking more than 30 cruises and visiting unusual places like Djibouti.  One of his favorite travel experiences was hosting his family – children and grandchildren – in a rented villa in Tuscany.  In addition to golf and travel, he loved to work and did not retire until age 80, when he lost his leg due to an infected wound.  Drew worked tirelessly to walk again and gain strength and mobility to move home.  He and Mary enjoyed travel again, and he especially loved hosting family special birthday parties at Bedford Springs. Drew and Mary are long-time supporters of many local organizations, including The Pittsburgh Opera, Pittsburgh Symphony, Carnegie Museums, Phipps Conservatory, Pittsburgh Public Theater, Denis Theater Foundation, and many others. Drew is survived by his very devoted wife, Mary, of 68 years, daughters Sharon Kistler and Ginger (Stuart) Bean, daughter-in-law Jamie Kistler, four grandchildren to whom he is   known as Sir – Brittany Dill (Norman), Andrew and Morgan Bean, Douglas and Sarah DeNunzio – and two great-grandchildren to whom he is known as Sir – Aiden and Lucas Dill. Drew was predeceased by his father and mother, Ralph and Lillian Kistler, sister Laurielle, and son, Bill Kistler. The family wishes to thank Providence Point Healthcare and Gallagher Hospice for their compassionate care at the end of his life. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated in the Chapel at Providence Point on Friday December 16 at 11:00 AM with a reception to follow. Contributions in his memory may be made to St. Anne Church, 400 Hoodridge Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15234. 

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