A friend recently told me, speaking from experience, that no matter how prepared you think you are for the death of a loved one, it still comes as a shock. You know what? She was right. Eleven days ago, my dad died. His passing did not come as a surprise, but it was still a shock. Some days I'm okay and can talk about it without crying, yet other days I can't get past the tears. I think about one little thing and boom. In fact, I'm crying right now.
I believe experiencing loss is an integral part of our emotional growth. When that loss involves death, however, especially the death of someone to whom we are close, the aftermath is different. The questions are bigger. And I can't figure out how to verbalize what is going on in my head - it's crazy nonsense in there. Faith, karma, life after death, being in a "better place", - these are big issues. I've had troubling thoughts even before dad died; he had more health crises just this past year than I've had my entire life. How is that fair? Coming to a place of understanding and acceptance will be a difficult journey.
A while back my dad sent me an email that I wanted to keep forever, but
Yahoo had other ideas. In a nutshell, he told me he was proud of me.
He said, "My daughter the artist. I never thought I would be able to
say that." So last night I cranked up John Denver's Greatest Hits, and
painted something for my dad. It's not ready for me to share - I named it "Painted on the Sky" but it isn't finished yet - so instead today I want to share a few photographs, each one worth a thousand words. This is my dad.
Kenneth P. Keim was born on September 14, 1936 in Queens,
New York.
He graduated from LaSalle High
School in Manhattan,
and went on to electrician apprentice school.
He became a Journeyman Electrician and then a foreman, and was a member
of the New York City IBEW for 13 years.
Ken joined the U.S. Navy, where he was a Second Class Petty
Officer and Aviation Electrician Mate, first in Brunswick, Maine (where he
learned to ski) and then at the NATO Naval Base in Sicily.
He met Patricia Ann Kebe on a blind date, and they married on October 9, 1965. In 1968 they moved their growing family to
Killington, where they put down roots and involved themselves in the humble
beginnings of a small ski town. Pat was
elected Town Treasurer, a position she held for many years, and Ken arrived at
just the right time to fill the shoes of the only electrician in town, who was
retiring.
In his spare time in Killington, Ken volunteered his services
in many ways. He served on the Sherburne
Volunteer Fire Department, as Deputy Chief, Vice President and President. He was a longtime Parish Council member at
Our Lady of the Mountains, and helped coordinate with the United Church of
Christ on common projects. He was also a
founding member of the ecumenical Easter Sunrise Service. Ken served on the committees that built the
“new” Sherburne Elementary
School and the Johnson
Recreation Center
in the early 1970s. When Josephine
Blanchard suggested the town should have fireworks on the 4th of July, Ken took the idea and ran with it,
ordering the fireworks, building ground displays, organizing volunteers and
setting off the fireworks with a flare stuck on the end of a 2x4. He was a charter member of the
Killington-Pico Rotary Club, and was their first Paul Harris Fellow. He filled many elected and appointed Town
positions, including Town Auditor, Town Agent, Fence Viewer, Energy
Coordinator, and Weigher of Coal. Ken
and Pat hosted several KTP (later KMS) students in their home. Ken was a USSA Alpine Official; he
volunteered at Killington Ski Club as their Alpine start Official for many
years. His latest project was
researching a way to preserve Bob Perry’s 16mm films of the Killington Ski
Area; he felt very strongly that Bob’s enormous contribution to Killington’s
history needed to be preserved and shared for generations to come.
Ken’s interests were varied and many. He was a voracious reader, an avid telemark
skier, an accomplished photographer, a casual golfer, a frequent traveler, a
savvy eBay shopper, and a talented storyteller.
He was always ready with a joke.
And through it all he battled numerous health issues, many stemming from
Crohn’s Disease, with humor and grace.
Ken passed away peacefully in his sleep in the early morning
hours of Friday, September 20, 2013. He received wonderful care at the Mountain
View Center in his
last weeks, and at the Rutland Regional
Medical Center
over the years.
He is predeceased by his parents, John and Rita (nee McGrath)
Keim, his brother Arthur, and several childhood friends. He is survived by his wife Patricia;
daughters Ann Marie and her husband Aidan Thomas, Christine Vandeberg, and
Kathy and her husband John Ferrara; grandchildren Delaney Thomas, Liam Thomas,
Abby Ferrara and Evan Ferrara; sisters Rita and Dorothy; sister-in-law Patricia;
nephews Glenn and Robert; cousins Diane, Lois and Ed. He was also much loved by an extended family,
close childhood friends, equally close local friends and a community that meant
a lot to him.
A celebration of Ken’s life will be held at the Summit Lodge
in Killington on Saturday, October 12, from 3:00
to 8:00. All are welcome to join the family for beer,
wine and light food. There will be an
open mic, so please come ready to share your stories and jokes. A Mass will precede the celebration at 1:00 at Our Lady of the Mountains.
In lieu of flowers, donations are very welcome to the Bob
Perry Film Restoration Project. Checks
can be sent to the Killington Town Office at P.O. Box
429, Killington, VT 05751.
“I yam what I yam and
tha’s all what I yam.” - Popeye
Another friend, after reading the obituary, said this: "He lived and that is what I am reading here about your dad ... he lived a full life. We must all take notice and remember to live!" Yes, he did. What a lesson for us all.
