Fr. Hugh Keefer (1927-2011)
A struggle with failing health ended for Father Hugh June 1, 2011. His anxiety was very visible to the Abbey Health Care staff and an ambulance was called but Hugh entered the fullness of the Kingdom almost simultaneous to the arrival of the ambulance. His anxieties ceased.
After being born in Emporia, Kan., and receiving his education in the public schools of that city, Lewis graduated from Emporia State Teachers College, now Emporia State University. His degree was in mathematics with another Bachelor’s degree in science education. Lewis put these degrees to work in Columbus, Kan., and Anchorage, Alaska, where he worked for the Army Engineers. Later he completed work for a Masters in mathematics from the University of Michigan.
During his time teaching math at Shawnee Mission High School, Lewis became a Catholic. He felt an inclination to the monastic life and so visited St. Vincent Archabbey and was later accepted as a postulant at the Trappist Abbey in Berryville, Va. On leaving the Trappists he took courses at The American University and Georgetown University.
Lewis’ journey brought him to St. Benedict’s College where he applied for membership in the Abbey community.
As Frater Hugh he professed first vows July 11, 1963. and was ordained priest June 2, 1967, in the Abbey Church.
Abbot Thomas Hartman recognized the proven talent of Father Hugh and so sent him to Notre Dame where in two years he earned a Master’s degree in business administration. During the 1970s he put his talents to use as controller of St. Benedict’s College. Later he served as both business manager and controller of the newly formed (1971) Benedictine College. While successfully managing these responsibilities he was the chaplain to the College Knights of Columbus, Council #4708. With his presence and inspiration the council was voted the College Council of the Year four times.
In the decade of the 1980s Father Hugh worked at Maur Hill Prep School and as assistant business manager of the Abbey for Father Hilary Heim and later for Father Maurice Haefling. He would help at St. Martin’s College, a Benedictine institution in Lacey, Wash., and later at Sant’Anselmo, the International Benedictine College in Rome.
Perhaps the task he was most cherished was his looking face to face at an addiction. He entered a 12-step program and for almost 20 years helped save his own life one day at a time. But not only that, Fr. Hugh gave away what he had been so freely given and helped an incalculable number of fellow sufferers. He literally saved the lives of many persons, thereby saving his own. The more of himself he gave away the more he had. The spirituality he discovered dovetailed with the best of monastic spirituality and that of the sacred scripture.
Perforce these themes of self-surrender and the primacy of a Power Greater than himself permeated his homilies at the Abbey and at Mount St. Scholastica. For this legacy he will be best remembered.