Obituary of Keith Blakeney

Frederick Keith Blakeney, known to friends and family as Keith, passed away peacefully with family by his side. He was born to Frederick and Helen Blakeney in Sacramento, CA where he spent his early youth before his family moved to the East Bay in 1946. He attended schools in Orinda, Lafayette and Piedmont, ultimately graduating from Piedmont High School in 1952. After graduating from high school he attended UC Berkeley but interrupted his education to join the Army, serving for two years during the Korean War. He then returned to complete his education at UC Berkeley, majored in engineering and joined the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, in which he stayed active as an alumni. Before graduating, he met Jean Eloisa Hartman and they married in 1959. In 1963, Keith and Jean moved to Lafayette, where they raised their four children. Keith will be remembered as a gregarious man, who enjoyed socializing and meeting new people. He enjoyed skiing, hiking, camping, jogging, traveling, and music. He played the bassoon in in a youth symphony during college, and was accepted into the Oakland Symphony during his last college year. He shared his love of skiing with his children, starting all of them on the slopes by the age of three. He passed along his love of the outdoors by taking his children and grandchildren hiking, backpacking and camping, particularly in Yosemite, a place that he held a special place in his heart. His children also have fond memories of frequent outings to the Oakland A's games, that with invitations their friends could result in an expedition with sixteen or more children in attendance. Keith loved his family & friends and nothing brought him more pleasure than to have them together for picnics, parties and holidays. Immediately following his marriage, Keith went into the real estate industry and formed his own property management company. That led to the formation of a real estate brokerage firm, and he soon became a real estate developer. He remained in the real estate business for the remainder of his working years. Keith never really admitted to retiring from work, but in later years he spent more time as an active volunteer in a number of organizations including: the Lafayette Historical Society where he served as a director from 2004-2012; SCORE providing assistance and mentoring to small businesses; and he actively assisted in lobbying efforts to improve programs for Veterans. He leaves behind his daughters Alison Lynne Bird (Wayne), Lisa Diane Boylan (Patrick), and Jill Suzanne Blakeney, son Frederick Keith Blakeney Jr., grandchildren Colleen and Cheryl Bird, Sean and Kayla Boylan, Daniel Bucchi, Kelcey Blakeney, and Isabella and Samuel Blakeney & brother Phil Blakeney and mabny other friends and relatives. A celebration of his life is planned at the Stanley Dollar Clubhouse in Rossmoor, CA on 6/19/14 at 11am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in the name of Keith Blakeney to Yosemite Conservancy at https://secure.yosemiteconservancy.org/donate/memorial.cfm or 800-469-7275.