Carolyn Berglund Keefe, professor, poet

In her 1977 book, Freedom For Me and Other Human Creatures, Carolyn Berglund Keefe wrote, "If I could choose a time to die it would be in spring just around Easter. Yes, spring would be a glorious time to die when the natural world is being reborn and faith in Christ is most poignantly real."

Dr. Keefe, a professor, poet, and minister's wife, died of kidney failure April 29, two weeks after Easter, at Lima Estates in Media. She was 80.

For 23 years, she served on the faculty of West Chester University, teaching courses in speech and communications. In 1979, she received a distinguished teaching award. She also won forensic coaching awards for her achievements as director of forensics and assistant debate coach at West Chester. From 1985 to 1991, she was a communications consultant for Martel Associates, a leadership-development firm.

After retiring in 1992, she continued to serve as parliamentarian for West Chester Alumni Association meetings.

Dr. Keefe wrote numerous articles and poems as well as seven books, including, Freedom for Me and Other Human Creatures, described as, "a tapestry of  freedom as experienced and examined by many people, famous and unknown. Underlying all is the biblical presentation of freedom." An authority on C.S. Lewis, Mrs. Keefe published C.S. Lewis: Speaker & Teacher in 1971. It was reissued twice. She also co-wrote Introduction to Debate and the Complete Book of Speechwriting for Students and Professionals.

Dr. Keefe was a native of Grand Rapids, Mich. Her father died when she was 4 and she remained devoted to her widowed mother, said Timothy B. Anderson, a family friend.

Dr. Keefe earned a bachelor's degree in religion from Oberlin College, where she met her future husband, Frederick L. Keefe. She earned a master's degree in rhetoric and public address from Temple University; a master's degree in religious studies from Villanova University; and a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Pennsylvania. Before joining the West Chester faculty, she taught at Rutgers University from 1965 to 1969.

She and her husband, a Presbyterian minister, married in 1949. He was pastor at churches in New London, Pa., Germantown, and Upper Darby before retiring in 1978.

Dr. Keefe was grateful for the joy she received from teaching countless students and assisting her husband in his ministry, Anderson, who was a former student, said. In her retirement years, she enjoyed providing child care for her grandson, Evan.

She and her husband moved from Springfield, Delaware County, to Hershey's Mill in West Chester in 1983. He died in 2004 and two years later she moved to Granite Farms Estates in Media, where she served on the board of directors. She moved to Lima Estates three months ago.

In addition to her grandson, Dr. Keefe is survived by a daughter, Cheryl; and a son, F. Lawrence.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church, 356 Summit Rd., Springfield, Pa. 19064. Friends may call from 9 a.m.

Donations may be made to the Samaritan Fund, Granite Farms Estates, 1343 W. Baltimore Pike, Media, Pa. 19063.