JOHN GILBERT KEELEY
On this one-year anniversary of the passing of my dad, John Gilbert Keeley, I have a few short, simple words to write – which is exactly what my dad would have liked, short and simple.
Everyone who met my dad will have memories of him, and he lives on through those, but the impact he had on me and so many others will remain even long after we are gone.
By that, I'm talking about the things I learned from my dad that I've been working to pass on to my own kids.
First, was his incredible work ethic and perseverance. He would always tell us, "If they kick you out the front door, you go find that back door!" He worked very hard his whole life for all that he had and all that he and my mom gave us four children – he truly lived by one of his favorite expressions – there's no free lunch. I feel my siblings Maryse, Claudine, Pierre, and I all embody this in our daily lives.
I think the most impactful thing my dad taught me was perspective and empathy. This was largely through his actions, not just a parental lecture. My dad viewed the world through the eyes of others as well as his own, which made him exceptionally kind and understanding.
Finally, my dad was really funny! He had an expression to fit virtually any occasion. We probably all have our own favorites that we heard him say. Mine is, "there is always room at the top." It's back to that perseverance and never giving up. My brother, Pierre, and my husband, Marius, and I all gifted each other gavels with this engraved on it for our various graduations as it had such a deep impact on us all.
Daddy, you've made it to the very top, up there with the Big Guy. On this one year without you, let's raise a virtual toast to you, Dad: you'll be forever loved and forever missed.