Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory

Kenneth Thomas Riso, accomplished Endodontist, avid sports fisherman, avocational musician, loving husband, devoted father, doting grandfather, and friend to every animal big and small, died at home March 17, 2023 surrounded by his family and his beloved dog Lady Grey. 

Starting in the 1980s, Ken built and ran numerous Endodontic offices around the South Florida area and, according to a colleague, “worked harder than any Endodontist who ever lived.” Among his patients were numerous Palm Beach residents and celebrities, but he made time for every patient, regularly coming in early and staying late so patients wouldn’t have to miss work or ruin their vacation.

As hard as he worked, Ken always made time for his family: never missing a family dinner, taking his wife out for a special date every Friday evening, and taking his family on extended trips ranging from diving with sharks in the Bahamas to traveling down the Nile river in Egypt.

An avid sports fisherman, Ken chased tuna and billfish from the Florida coast to the Azores and would frequently joke that he would only eat steak if he couldn’t find good tuna. Some of Ken’s closest friends went on these trips with him and he cherished those memories for the rest of his life. Along the way, Ken earned his 50 ton captain’s license and opened a sports fishing charter business with his 50 foot sport fishing boat out of Sailfish Marina, right next to the Palm Beach Inlet.

Ken was a lifelong animal lover and instilled the same in his children, who now regularly foster and adopt rescue dogs, and his granddaughter who volunteers at an animal shelter.

Ken grew up with four siblings, Rocco Riso, Carol Campbell, Ron Riso, and Greg Riso, in Oredell, New Jersey. He attended Riverdell High School where he met, and formed bands with, some of his closest lifelong friends. Ken attended Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, where he first met the woman who would be his wife, Rebecca Weber. They both attended the University of Pennsylvania School of Dentistry, graduating in 1975 and 1977, respectively. They married on June 8, 1975. 

Ken and Rebecca had two children, Katharine in 1980 and Mark in 1982. Katharine would grow up being his scuba diving buddy, leading him around tropical reefs and never leaving his side during shark dives. Mark would grow up as his weekend assistant, helping him as he tackled projects ranging from rehabbing sport fishing boats, to constructing cabinets and rebuilding bathrooms.

Ken returned to the University of Pennsylvania to pursue a specialty in endodontics, graduating in 1986 with the Louis Grossman award. After briefly considering staying at the dental school to teach, Ken left for South Florida where he would stay for the rest of his career. There, he established his endodontics practices in Wellington, Palm Beach Gardens, and Tequesta. Eventually, after decades of practicing, he took up the signature Florida pastime of golfing, more seriously–accumulating trophies and making new friends along the way–and continued challenging himself with pursuits such as mosaic art and mastering the perfect cannoli recipe. Ken also earned a real estate broker’s license and opened Riso Reality, LLC.

On June 23, 2010, Ken’s favorite person in the world, his granddaughter Ranin Alwishah was born. Shortly thereafter, Ken retired from Dentistry. After tiring of year-long golf and sunshine, Ken moved to Riva, Maryland, to be closer to his son and daughter-in-law who live in Lothian, Maryland, as well as his siblings and in-laws who live in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. 

In Riva, Ken quickly became known by his neighbors as the nice man who always had a smile on his face and a helping hand, and by the neighborhood dogs as the nice man who always had dog treats in his pocket and time to stop to pet them.

Ken is preceded in death by his parents Rocco Riso and Beatrice Riso. Ken is survived by his wife, Rebecca Weber, his children Katharine Alwishah and Mark Riso, and his granddaughter Ranin Alwishah.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, March 30, 2023, at 10 am at All Hallows Episcopal ( Brick Church) Church, 3600 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD 21037


Kenneth Riso

Kenneth Riso

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