Robert Livingston Kester III
Published in the Sun-Sentinel on 6/16/2006.

Wife: Marcia
Father: Robert L. Kester Jr.
Mother: Mae Anna Jones Kester

Place: Pompano Beach, Florida
 
Kester, Robert Livingston III, age 87, died Sunday, June 4, 2006, at St. Joseph's
Candler Hospital in Savannah. GA, He was a resident of 107 Cascades, St. Simons Island,
GA 31522 for 13 years having moved from Boca Raton, FL, where he was involved in the
banking industry. Mr. Kester was born in New York on May 31, 1919, the son of
Robert L. Kester, Jr. And Mae Anna Jones Kester. His parents moved to Scarsdale,
NY shortly after his birth. He graduated from Scarsdale High School in 1937, graduated
from Cornell University in 1941 with a degree in chemistry, and was a member - and later
a director - of Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity, Upon graduation he went to work for
Union Carbide Corp. Mr. Kester's career then turned to banking in Pompano Beach, FL.
He became president of a bank which ultimately became Florida Coast Bank with 22 branches,
where he remained as chairman until 1984 when they were acquired by Barnett Bank.

Mr. Kester's hobbies were hunting, fishing and especially trains. It was on a hunting
trip out West when he fell in love with Montana, bought a ranch, became a rancher and
eventually went back into banking in Bozeman, Mt when he bought the Interwest Bank.
He then founded the first bank in Big Sky, MT in 1990 and remained chairman until he
retired in 2000. Mr. Kester was a member and director of the Pompano Beach Rotary Club
and a Paul Harris Fellow; founder and elder of Cypress Presbyterian Church, Pompano Beach; 
director of Deveon International Corp., Deerfield Beach, FL; chairman and CEO of
Florida Coast Bank Inc., Pompano Beach; member of Boca Raton Hotel and Club,
Boca Raton, FL; member of Royal Palm Yacht and Country Club, Boca Raton; founding member
and director of Society for the Performing Arts, Boca Raton; president and director of
Pediatric Children's Society. Broward County, FL; director of Boy Scouts of America,
Fort Lauderdale, FL; director of Pinecrest Preparatory School in Fort Lauderdale and
remained as director emeritus until his death; director of Midlantic National Bank & Trust,
Fort Lauderdale, FL; recipient of the State of Israel Peace Medal; director and vice
chairman of WPTA, Channel 2 in Miami; director of Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta,
Miami branch; chairman of Interwest Bank of Montana, Bozeman; director of Eagle Mount,
Bozeman; chairman and director of Big Sky Western Bank. Big Sky; and director of
Big Sky Owners Association, Big Sky. Locally, Mr. Kester was a member of the St. Simons
Presbyterian Church and a member of the St. Simon Rotary Club. Mr. Kester is survived
by his devoted and loving wife of 33 years, Marcia; two children, a son, Robert L. (Rob)
Kester IV of Monticello, FL, and a daughter, Laurel Ann of Frankfurt, KY; a stepson,
Jeffrey D, (Leah) Maddox of Baltimore, MD; four step-grandchildren , Kate, Christopher,
Michael and Fthan Robert, all of Baltimore; one brother, Stewart R. (Fay) Kester of
Lighthouse Point, FL and several nieces and nephews. Memorial contributions may be made
to the Salvation Army.