Kenneth Hartzler of Boynton Beach, Florida passed away suddenly on Monday November 4, 2024 at the age of 75. He was born on November 23, 1948 in Cincinnati, Ohio where he grew up with his three sisters and dozens of cousins from his large extended family.

Ken graduated from Western Hills High School in 1967 where he was a superb athlete playing on the basketball, baseball and football teams.

He attended East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina where he earned an athletic scholarship to play on the Men's basketball team, and later University of Cincinnati. After college he worked for Shillito’s Department Stores managing a line of men’s boutique clothing stores. In 1973 he accepted a transfer to Jeans West in Baltimore, Maryland where he met his wife Wendy. Ken went on to a career in real estate as a mortgage broker for several years before becoming a certified residential appraiser. He opened his own appraising firm, Appraisal Central, in 2006. Upon retirement he and his wife moved to Scottsdale, Arizona where he enjoyed golfing and hiking before eventually developing a scotch and whiskey education company, Scotch 101. In 2018 they relocated to South Florida to be closer to family and embrace a life at the beach. Ken maintained a passion for athletics, travel, and the great outdoors throughout his life and thrived on sharing those passions with his friends and family.

Ken's undying love for basketball extended past his playing years leading him to become a well-known college and high school referee in Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC.  He was renowned as a referee for more than 20 years, while also coaching his son's and daughter's basketball teams, bringing enthusiasm, and heart-felt athletic guidance to younger generations.

He is survived by his wife Wendy of Boynton Beach, FL , son Adam Hartzler of Washington, DC, daughter Ashley Hartzler of Clearwater, FL and sister Gwen Diffenderfer of Englewood, Ohio.

Due to his lifelong love and commitment to the sport of basketball, in his honor, the family has created a scholarship fund for aspiring young basketball players to follow their dream. Please consider making a donation to the Ken Hartzler Memorial Scholarship Fund.    https://bold.org/funds/kennet…

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