He was a lifelong resident of New York City and began Outwater in August 1972. The company and its corporate affiliate, Architectural Products by Outwater, with facilities in New Jersey and Arizona, are recognized as a major international supplier of nearly 40,000 standard and innovative component products to numerous industries.

Best remembered for his generosity and contributions that he made to the lives of everyone who knew him, Kessler attributed the success of Outwater to the dedication and hard work of his employees, whom he referred to as his "best investment in the whole world."

He leaves behind his second wife, Linda, his two sons Richard and Peter, daughter-in-law Susan and grandchildren Stephen, Faye Laurent and William. His wife of more than 40 years Sylvia predeceased him in 1995.