BROOKLINE, Mass. – Christopher “Kip” Keeling, 36, died June 14, 2011, at his home after a long illness. Chris was born May 8, 1975, in Peoria, Ill., and was the son of Rudy and Jane Keeling of Londonderry, N.H.
He was raised and educated in Peoria, Ill., Whitefish Bay, Wis., and Bangor. He graduated from Bangor High School in 1993 where he was a member of the Bangor High 1993 State A Boy’s Basketball Championship team. He was a member of the University of Maine at Orono men’s basketball team from 1993-1996, and earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maine in 1998. Chris worked as an assistant men’s basketball coach at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell and at Furman University, Greenville, S.C. After that he worked as a financial aid advisor in the office of student financial services at Boston University and served as the director of student financial services at Pine Manor College, Chestnut Hill, Mass. He was a sports enthusiast and an especially knowledgeable college basketball fan. His friends remember his contagious laughter, quick wit and charming smile. People who knew him just naturally loved him because he was a sweet soul.
He is deeply loved and survived by his mother and father; three grandparents, Jane and Spalding Slevin of Peoria, Ill., and Theodora Keeling of Charlotte, N.C.; two sisters and their partners, Kara Keeling and Chandra Ford of Los Angeles, and Tina Keeling and Nick Valadez of Londonderry, N.H.; two brothers, Cory Keeling of Londonderry, N.H., and David Keeling and his wife, Natalie, of Las Vegas; a nephew, Nicholas Valadez; many aunts, uncles and cousins all around the country. He also will be greatly missed by his girlfriend, Shweta Bhatt of Brookline, Mass. Kip touched many lives and hearts.
A brief memorial service to honor his life will be held 11:30 a.m.-noon Saturday, June 25, at Peabody Funeral Home and Crematorium, 290 Mammoth Road, Londonderry, N.H, where calling hours will be 10-11:30 a.m. prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Kip’s name are being accepted at Pine Street Inn, Development Office, 444 Harrison St., Boston, MA 02118. To send a condolence or for more information, visit
www.peabodyfuneralhome.com.