John T. Kehner, 67, of West Chester, lawyer, sports fan

John T. Kehner, 67, of West Chester, a lawyer and sports enthusiast, died of cancer Thursday, Sept. 23, at Neighborhood Hospice in West Chester.

Mr. Kehner joined the law firm of Schnader, Harrison, Segal & Lewis in Philadelphia in 1969 and became a partner in the mid-1970s. From 1998 until retiring last year, he was with the firm of Lamb McErlane in West Chester. His specialty was estate and trust law. Early in his career, he was also an attorney for the Committee of Seventy.

While helping to raise two sons in Fairmount, Mr. Kehner was a baseball coach and official with the Fairmount Sports Association.

He also participated in baseball board-game leagues in which statistics of major-league players are used.

Mr. Kehner told The Inquirer in 1987 that the game was an "amazing vehicle" to teach his young sons baseball strategy.

Since moving to West Chester in 1999, he had been active with the Rotary Club of West Chester.

Mr. Kehner grew up with five younger siblings in Southwest Philadelphia. He graduated from West Philadelphia Catholic High School, and earned a bachelor's degree from St. Joseph's University and a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. For 12 summers he was a member of the Sea Isle Beach Patrol.

He served in the Army Reserve from 1968 to 1974.

Mr. Kehner married Mary Nolan, a nurse, in 1968. They met as teenagers at a church dance in Delaware County.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Kehner is survived by sons Joseph and Matthew; four brothers; a sister; and four granddaughters.

Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28, at DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, 410 N. Church, St., West Chester. A Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 29, at SS. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church, 1325 Boot Rd., West Chester. Friends may call at the church Wednesday, Sept. 29, from 9:15 a.m.

Donations may be made to Chester County Hematology-Oncology Services, The Cancer Center of Chester County Hospital, 440 E. Marshall St., West Chester, Pa. 19380.