The last known published information on Barry that I read was from the SAE Record which showed him joining "Chapter Eternal" while a professor at Idaho State University at Pocatello, Idaho. I have researched and found that he passed away May 13, 2002 at the age of 64.
Barry was our Phi Aplha Chapter VP in 1960 and I believe he succeeded Jack Murray as President the following year. After contacting the Biological Sciences Department at Idaho State Univeristy, they were gracious enough to retrieve and send me a copy of Barry's obituary which I will now input to this site in his memory and honor.
"Barry L Keller passed away Monday, May 13, 2002 in Idaho Falls after a valiant battle with cancer.
Born in Chicago, Illinois to Raymond and Mildred Keller on November 15, 1937, Barry grew up in La Grange, Illinois, the youngest of four children. Barry received his bachelor's and master's degrees at Western Michigan University and his Ph.D. at Indiana University.
He and his Wife, Nancy, whom he met at Western Michigan, moved to Pocatello in 1970. Barry taught in the Department of Biology at Idaho State University as professor of mammalian ecology for 32 years. He was also curator of mammals at the Idaho Museum of Natural History. He loved working with students, and he particularly enjoyed his research on the bats of Idaho. Dr. Keller received a large number of grants over the years making it possible to fund his own research as well as many graduate students.
Barry was active in a large number of organizations: the South Bannock County Museum in Lava Hot Springs, Lava Ranch Property Owners Association, the Idaho Falls Symphony and Anam Cara, the chamber choir of Idaho, were just a few. Attending Ballet West performances in Salt Lake City was also a favorite pastime.
In recent years, besides his family and new granddaughter, music became his love, his passion. Singing in Idaho Falls, Sun Valley and on several trips to Europe were some of his most memorable times.
Barry is survived by Nancy Keller of Pocatello; daughters, Cindy Keller-Peck (Dallas) of Bosie, Idaho and Jennifer Keller Saathoff (Richard) and granddaughter Rachel, of Layton, Utah; a brother, Thomas Keller of Michigan; a sister, Rae Lea Callaway of Illinois; and numerous nieces and nephews, a sister, Millie, proceeded Barry in death."
Services were held at St. John's Episcopal Church in Idaho Falls, Idaho on Thursday May 16, 2002. In lieu of flowers, the family suggested donations to the American Cancer Society. Since Barry's passing, the Barry Keller Memorial Scholarship has been established in the Department of Biological Sciences at Idaho State University. This is certainly a great honor to Barry's memory.
Quoting Sandy Mitchell , Office Services Supervisor, Biological Sciences at ISU, "I was here when Dr. Keller was still alive and enjoyed his wonderful sense of humor very much. He was one of my favorite professors in the department. It was a real loss to the scientific community when we lost him."
Gerry Kretschmar (1961)
The last known published information on Barry that I read was from the SAE Record which showed him joining "Chapter Eternal" while a professor at Idaho State University at Pocatello, Idaho. I have researched and found that he passed away May 13, 2002 at the age of 64.
Barry was our Phi Aplha Chapter VP in 1960 and I believe he succeeded Jack Murray as President the following year. After contacting the Biological Sciences Department at Idaho State Univeristy, they were gracious enough to retrieve and send me a copy of Barry's obituary which I will now input to this site in his memory and honor.
"Barry L Keller passed away Monday, May 13, 2002 in Idaho Falls after a valiant battle with cancer.
Born in Chicago, Illinois to Raymond and Mildred Keller on November 15, 1937, Barry grew up in La Grange, Illinois, the youngest of four children. Barry received his bachelor's and master's degrees at Western Michigan University and his Ph.D. at Indiana University.
He and his Wife, Nancy, whom he met at Western Michigan, moved to Pocatello in 1970. Barry taught in the Department of Biology at Idaho State University as professor of mammalian ecology for 32 years. He was also curator of mammals at the Idaho Museum of Natural History. He loved working with students, and he particularly enjoyed his research on the bats of Idaho. Dr. Keller received a large number of grants over the years making it possible to fund his own research as well as many graduate students.
Barry was active in a large number of organizations: the South Bannock County Museum in Lava Hot Springs, Lava Ranch Property Owners Association, the Idaho Falls Symphony and Anam Cara, the chamber choir of Idaho, were just a few. Attending Ballet West performances in Salt Lake City was also a favorite pastime.
In recent years, besides his family and new granddaughter, music became his love, his passion. Singing in Idaho Falls, Sun Valley and on several trips to Europe were some of his most memorable times.
Barry is survived by Nancy Keller of Pocatello; daughters, Cindy Keller-Peck (Dallas) of Bosie, Idaho and Jennifer Keller Saathoff (Richard) and granddaughter Rachel, of Layton, Utah; a brother, Thomas Keller of Michigan; a sister, Rae Lea Callaway of Illinois; and numerous nieces and nephews, a sister, Millie, proceeded Barry in death."
Services were held at St. John's Episcopal Church in Idaho Falls, Idaho on Thursday May 16, 2002. In lieu of flowers, the family suggested donations to the American Cancer Society. Since Barry's passing, the Barry Keller Memorial Scholarship has been established in the Department of Biological Sciences at Idaho State University. This is certainly a great honor to Barry's memory.
Quoting Sandy Mitchell , Office Services Supervisor, Biological Sciences at ISU, "I was here when Dr. Keller was still alive and enjoyed his wonderful sense of humor very much. He was one of my favorite professors in the department. It was a real loss to the scientific community when we lost him."