Donald Malcolm Keene

Wednesday morning, April 22, with his cat in his lap and his wife by his side, Don Keene's battle with brain cancer came to an end. His life began in Savannah on December 18, 1939 and at the age of 4 Daytona Beach became his family's home. As a boy he spent many happy days exploring, fishing, swimming and biking throughout the area, even catching frogs to feed the snakes housed at a local tourist attraction. He loved being a bat boy for the minor league team of the time and participated extensively in scouting, earning his eagle scout badge as a teen. Like many local kids, in the summer he found a job working on the beach, as well as helping his father in the family's optometric business. He was lucky enough to see Elvis perform! After graduating Mainland High School, he headed off to college and ended up at Auburn University. That freshman year an accident during wrestling practice left him with a broken neck and a gloomy prognosis. After being paralyzed for several months, one finger began to move and a slow determined recovery began. He was able to return to Auburn and eventually gain acceptance to the dental school at the University of Tennessee. Upon graduation from dental school, he furthered his knowledge by attending the University of Washington, which offered an exceptional graduate program in Periodontics. His love of family and Florida brought him back to Daytona Beach to open his practice. His professional goal was to offer excellent care and good dental advice: don't smoke, floss daily and the famous, only brush the teeth you want to keep. He was very active in the dental community serving for many years as an officer of the Central District Dental Society and as a speaker for dental groups across the country. He was tapped to be a member of the American College of Dentists and traveled overseas to provide dental services to the needy. He was a Rotarian and served on the board of the Daytona Beach Museum of Arts and Sciences, and like his parents before him, was active in the First Baptist Church of Daytona Beach. Auburn University inducted Don into the George Petrie Society in recognition of his generous support of Auburn. He never missed a year supporting the school. After all, it was the Vets from Auburn's School of Veterinary Medicine that rushed to the scene of his accident in tiny Auburn, AL rotated and stabilized his neck until an ambulance could arrive from distant Columbus, GA. Don was an accomplished photographer and traveled extensively to photograph grizzles, eagles, and big cats of every sort, but his favorite subjects were his children and grandchildren. His favorite channel on TV was the golf channel and he would analyze his game with the same exactitude used as a clinician. He lived his life in a state of gratitude for every experience he had and every person he met. He was a true leader who was always available to lend a helping hand, to answer any question, or to support those in need. Guided by his faith in the Lord, Donald Keene showed an appreciation for life and was an empowering role model to those who knew him. The integrity with which he lived his life has been selfishly handed down to his wife, his son, his grandchildren, and to all those who were privileged to know him. He was precede in death by his mother Edith Dill Keene, his father George M Keene D.O. and his daughter Stephanie Keene. He is survived by his wife Carolyn Clement Keene, his son Gregory Donald Keene (Jaimee), his grandsons Grant and Alexander Keene of Boulder, CO. A Funeral Service in his honor will be held at 11 am, May 8, 2015 at the First Baptist, Church, Daytona Beach. In lieu of flowers Don requested that donations in his name be made to the MOAS of Daytona Beach or the Boy Scouts of America.