Obituary of Hugh Arthur Keller

WESTFIELD - Hugh A. Keller, 89, of 45 Elm St., Westfield, died Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011, at home. He was a public relations and fundraising practitioner and consultant for many years. Mr. Keller was born in Sanford, N.C., on April 7, 1921, the son of Arthur Michelle and Anne Cornelia Truelove Keller. He was raised at the National Orphans Home, Junior Order United American Mechanics, in Tiffin, Ohio. A veteran of 46 months of volunteer service with the U.S. Marines during World War II, he received battle stars and letters of commendation for his participation in the invasions of Saipan and Okinawa. After World War II, Mr. Keller attended Ashland College in Ashland, Ohio, and graduated in 1949 with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in business administration. In 1950, he graduated from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in New York City with a master's degree in journalism. Mr. Keller served as public relations director for the Binghamton Community Chest and Council of Social Agencies of Broome County, N.Y. from 1950 to 1952, when he became assistant to the staff director of Company Information at Thompson Products (now TRW) in Cleveland. He joined the Welch Grape Juice Company Inc. (now Welch's), Westfield, in 1954, and developed the company's first public relations department and communications program. In 1965, he formed his own public relations and fundraising firm in Westfield, and was appointed public relations counsel to the Welch Company. While associated with Welch, he contributed significantly to the development of National Grape Cooperative Association, Inc. After leaving Welch, Mr. Keller directed five capital fundraising campaigns for renovation, expansion and new construction at Westfield Memorial Hospital and two campaigns for building improvements and endowments at Patterson Library in Westfield. He also directed fundraising campaigns for the construction of Camp Timbercrest by the Chautauqua Area Girl Scout Council; for the construction of a new wing and expansion and improvements at James Prendergast Free Library in Jamestown, N.Y.; for the construction of a new library in Lakewood, N.Y.; for the construction of a new library in Olean, N.Y.; for the expansion, modernization and improvement of McCord Memorial Library in North East, Pa.; for the expansion and construction of a new wing at the Mayville Library, Mayville, N.Y.; for the establishment and construction of the North East Health Care Center in North East, Pa.; for construction of the "Sea Lion," an authentic reproduction for a 16th century English merchant vessel in Mayville, N.Y.; for major expansion and renovation of Lake Shore Hospital in Irving, N.Y.; for construction of a new building for Eden Library, in Eden, N.Y., and for construction of a new library building in Springville, N.Y. Mr. Keller served as public relations counsel to numerous companies and nonprofit organizations in New York and Pennsylvania. He also directed election campaigns for candidates for local, county and state public offices and developed programs and prepared speeches for elected and appointed officials. He organized the Westfield United Fund and served as its first president from 1962 to 1965. He served as a member of the Chautauqua County Government Study Com-mission from 1962 to 1968 and as a trustee of Chautauqua Institution from 1964 to 1972. He was a charter member of the Chautauqua County Press Club, a former director of the Westfield-Mayville Rotary Club and belonged to the United Methodist Church of Westfield. Surviving are his wife of 61 years, Patricia Ellen Herr of Westfield; two sons: Steven A. Keller of Westfield, and Jeffrey T. Keller (wife Antoinette), a step-grandson, Franck Keller Wa Mpezya (wife Moza); and a great-granddaughter, Tyra Grace Michelle Wa Mpezya, of Albany, N.Y. A memorial service will be held this summer. The family suggests that memorials be made to the nonprofit organizations Mr. Keller assisted in Western New York and Pennsylvania; or to the American Children's Home, P.O. Box 1288, Lexington, N.C. 27293-1288.