Edwin Jeffrey Van Keuren

West Point, 1975

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Michael Conners on February 12, 2010:

Jeff may have passed, but his life was a celebration of living. I met Jeff in '71 when we were Plebes and both had joined the 'Fine Arts Forum'. An organization we pushed the limits of 'fine art' many times. Every grad owes him thanks for his work behind the scenes for all the shows put on as he ran the operations for setup, background, wiring and breakdown. Can any of us forget our Firstie year with Bob Hope and his entourage? Dionne Warwick (she was hard one to handle, but Jeff did it), and lastly the Bill Cosby event? Jeff was the guy who did the heavy lifting & work while Poz and I kept the bills paid, the other societies off our back (isn't comedy a fine art?). But Jeff was THE guy. We've kept in touch thorough the years, although not as much after our kids came, but I got the chance to see Jeff, Barb & the kids briefly in '08. Despite his battling the disease, it didn't become him. He fought the good fight. He may not have won, but in his efforts he showed me how you should go down swinging. Now I'm reminded of a song recently out from Toby Keith called 'Cryin' for Me', a song about losing his friend and band mate last year. Before, I understood the words. Now I truly know the feeling. Jeff, let it be said "Well Done, Be Thou at Peace."

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