Keith, who had as distinguished a career in medicine as his father, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Charles E. Whittaker, did in the judiciary, died Oct. 7, 2011, in his native Kansas City, Mo. He was 79. He had been battling Parkinson’s disease but never expressed self-pity.
His Princeton roommates were Walt Gamble, Bill Plauth (another prominent physician), Fred Russell, and Bob Taylor. Keith dined at Dial Lodge and majored in chemistry. He married the love of his life, Patricia Collins, Aug. 7, 1954. After medical school at Northwestern University and residency in neurosurgery at the University of Kansas Medical Center, Keith served with the Air Force and then returned to KU.
It was said in the medical community that Keith’s skill as a surgeon, his dogged pursuit of proper diagnosis, and his complete intolerance of anything short of perfection were legendary. Jack Pierson, the stalwart at our noteworthy Kansas City mini-reunion, said that Keith was one of the organizers and arranged for the enlightening meeting at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research.
Besides Patricia, Keith is survived by their sons, Tom, John, and Martin; daughters Ann Lindboe, Laura Gibson, and Mary Coit; and 23 grandchildren. He was generous and fun-loving with his family and friends and had the respect and admiration of his colleagues and patients.