Harold Smith Keating Jr.

1926 - 2009

Harold Smith Keating Jr., longtime South Bay resident, died at a local hospital March 4, 2009 after a lengthy illness. He was 82. A journalist and public relations specialist, his career included reporting for such newspapers as the San Diego Union and the Santa Monica Outlook. He was a section editor of the Los Angeles Times in the 1960s and 1970s. His freelance travel stories and photos appeared in major publications including Copley News Service, Conde Naste Traveler and Travel World News. After retirement in 1980, he offered his expertise to El Camino College where he was the first manager of the El Camino College Foundation, a position he had as a volunteer for four years. He also enjoyed volunteering as a mentor to journalism students at El Camino College and at California State University Long Beach. One of his students, Teya Vitu who later joined major newspapers across the country, said that "Hal didn't suffer fools at all but once he accepted you, his generosity was boundless Hal was an old school journalist who used his razor sharp comments to make sure you nailed the basics while you went about exploring more creative forms of journalism." Mr. Keating was born June 19, 1926 to Harold and Gladys Keating of Chicago, IL. The family later moved to Coronado, CA. After graduation from Coronado High School in 1944, he enlisted in the United States Navy, serving in the South Pacific aboard a destroyer escort in World War II and aboard an aircraft carrier in Korea. He was an early member of the American Civil Liberties Union, crusading against censorship. His journalistic memberships included Sigma Delta Chi, the Pacific Coast Press Club and the Greater Los Angeles Press Club. He was a supporter of the Beach Cities Symphony and the Friends of the Banning Museum. He was an alumnus of Santa Monica City College, California State University, Los Angeles and the University of California at Los Angeles. He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Mary Ann; a sister, Marjorie Short of Carlsbad, CA; and a daughter, Katherine Cina of Sanford, FL; he is also survived by a brother-in-law, Robert S. Ramsay of Lomita. After cremation, ashes will be scattered privately. Memorials may be made to a local charity of choice. Please sign the guestbook at www.dailybreeze.com/obits.