Kekoo Gatta Obituary, Death – Kekoo Gatta, a prominent custom home builder and well-known figure in Niagara-on-the-Lake, tragically passed away after going for a swim in the Niagara River on Tuesday night. Gatta, 60, was the founder and owner of Gatta Homes, a luxury home development company that had operated in the region for over 30 years, contributing significantly to the area’s housing landscape.
The incident occurred near Gatta’s docked boat at the mouth of the Niagara River. After failing to return home and being out of contact for a prolonged period, Gatta’s family grew concerned and contacted the authorities. Constable Phil Gavin of the Niagara Regional Police confirmed that officers were called to the scene late Tuesday night. Emergency responders, including the Niagara-on-the-Lake and St. Catharines fire departments, Niagara police, and the Canadian Coast Guard, quickly launched a search effort. Gatta’s body was recovered by the police marine unit around 11:20 p.m., roughly two hours after the search began, found about 25 to 30 feet from where he was last seen. While the police have not officially released Gatta’s name, his family confirmed his passing early Wednesday morning. Authorities do not suspect foul play in the incident.
In addition to his role as a respected builder, Gatta was deeply involved in the local community, particularly through his work as a wrestling coach for the Brock University junior wrestling team. Wrestling had a profound impact on Gatta’s life, and he was a passionate advocate for the sport. In a 2022 interview with *The Lake Report*, he shared how wrestling had helped him overcome a challenging upbringing. Coming from a low-income background, Gatta credited the sport and his high school wrestling coach, Tom Sills, for giving him the support and opportunities he needed during difficult times. He also trained under former Olympic wrestler Richard Deschatelets Sr. during his final years of high school.
Gatta’s passion for wrestling taught him discipline, resilience, and perseverance, values that he applied to his successful career in the home-building industry. His passing is a great loss to both the construction industry and the local community. Gatta is survived by his three children—Zubin, Cyrus, and Farrantina—who were all competitive wrestlers and have inherited their father’s love for the sport. GOFUNDME