CHICAGO — Stanley Kivort, the retired president and owner of Kivort Steel Inc., Waterford, N.Y., has died at the age of 76.

Founded about 70 years ago as a scrap business by Kivort’s father, Abraham, Kivort Steel today distributes carbon and stainless steels and aluminum products.

Stanley Kivort joined the company in 1961 and retired in 1997, when his son, Robert, took over as president.

Kivort was active in regional philanthropic organizations near his home in Niskayuna, N.Y., including the Richmondville Lions Club, the Schenectady Jewish Community Center, the Schenectady Jewish Federation (now the Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York), Bellevue Women’s Hospital, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society and the New York Association for New Americans.

"His whole life was this business," company vice president Mikhail Polishchuk told AMM. "He retired, but we couldn’t keep him away."

An employee called Kivort "a good guy, a man of his word."

Kivort leaves a widow, Josie Goldman Kivort; two sons and their wives, Robert and Joceyln Kivort—who both work at the company—and Michael Kivort and Patricia Parker; four granddaughters; and a brother, Adrian.

Funeral services were held Jan. 16 in Niskayuna.