- Date Of Birth: February 1, 1933
- Date Of Death: April 25, 2022
- State: Illinois
Robert Philip Keller was born on February 1st, 1933 in Liberty, New York. Bob was the son of Robert and Helen Keller, the younger brother of Alda, and the older brother of Polly. Bob grew up in the small town of Liberty, 100 miles north of New York City. He was inspired by his parents and their strong work ethic and foundation of faith in the United Methodist Church contributed to his focus on the importance of family and aspiration to serve others.
During his high school years, Bob excelled in academics, served as President of the student council, participated in sports, and developed a strong work ethic as a junior accountant as well as delivering furniture for his family-owned business, the Keller Daylight Department Store.
As an academic standout and civic-minded leader for four years at Liberty High School, Bob graduated with honors as class valedictorian. He went on to attend Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA, earning an undergraduate degree in Mathematics. Then, continuing his studies by responding to God’s call to ministry, Bob attended and graduated from Yale Divinity School in New Haven, CT, with a Masters’s in Divinity.
Shortly after graduation, Bob married Rosemary Skinner, a classmate at Yale. Bob and Rosemary enjoyed a long, happy, and fulfilling marriage of 49 years until her death in 2008.
Bob began his pastoral career by serving in the Troy Conference of the United Methodist Church where he served a two-parish appointment in Pittsford and Chittenden, Vermont for his first four years.
In 1962, Bob and Rosemary moved across the country to Chicago’s southside and here he began his long ministerial career in the Chicago area. During this time, Bob and Rosemary had their two children – Jennifer, born in October 1963, and John, born in February 1966.
His first appointment in the Northern Illinois Conference was at Grace United Methodist Church in Chicago’s Gresham-Auburn Park neighborhood. Here, in the southside district, closely working with church, community, clergy, and individuals, the impetus for Bob’s devotion to civil rights was set in motion. He was passionately committed to the church and the community.
Bob was a part of Operation Bread Basket, founded and led by Jesse Jackson. He was dedicated to civil rights and equality. Lifelong friend and clergy member, Rev. Thomas Cross praised Bob’s commitment by saying, “Bob was on the frontline of the Gresham-Auburn Park southside community, leading society to a new day in the church, he was one of the leading voices in the church and society at large – working for equal treatment for Blacks and all minorities on how they were treated – this was a part of his ministry and his being. In 1965, as a young man in his thirties, he was a volunteer in the Selma to Montgomery march in the hopes of working with others for a substantive change in American life. He took scripture seriously. He believed we needed to live by it. He lived what he preached and he lived what he taught.”
Bob’s ministry was far-reaching as he served in senior pastor appointments in Illinois in Chicago, Aurora, Woodridge, Northbrook, and Ravenswood, and then moved to New York, with his wife, Rosemary who was academic dean at Union Theological Seminary. Here, he served part-time appointments in Harlem and Bridge Hampton. In his final appointment, Bob served as pastor of pastoral care in Evanston, IL, where he officially retired at age 81.
Bob’s character was always one of humility and devotion in his investment in others as well as serving all people. While he was a dedicated and passionate pastor in the civil rights movement, a voice for equality, and a leader in assisting minorities by opening avenues for gainful employment in society; his greatest love was serving as a pastor, loving God, sharing the Good News of the Gospel and helping people in their greatest time of need.
As serious as he was about his calling to the church, he also possessed a delightful and refreshing sense of humor, treasured by his family and friends. He was also a devoted sports fan, partial to the Chicago Bears, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Bulls, and Northwestern University Wildcats. He spent many hours rooting for his favorite teams.
All throughout his life he was a wonderful father to his children Jennifer (who currently works in the hospitality industry in downtown Chicago) and John (a lifelong high school English teacher in Naperville), a loving father-in-law to Melissa Keller, and a devoted grandfather to Conner and Cameron Keller. He is also survived by his sister Polly, who lives in Trumbull, CT, as well as his six nieces and nephews, his grandnieces, and his grandnephews.
