James Keller Obituary

James Maynard Keller

1944-2021

Salt Lake City, UT—James Maynard Keller was born on April 7th, 1944, to Howard Dale Keller and Marilyn Morgan in West Warren, Utah. Maynard graduated from Weber High School in 1962 and completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Utah in 1966. He then ventured to graduate school, first at Brown University, then completed his Master of Social Work degree at the University of Utah. Upon completion, he went to work at Rockland Psychiatric Center in Orangeburg, NY. Focusing his energy on child psychiatry, Maynard then worked for decades at Rockland Children's Psychiatric Center, where he brought his thoughtful creativity to bear in the service of children. A caring and compassionate man, he always sought to bring out the best in people and made a significant difference in several people's lives.

After his years at RCPC, Maynard turned to his other passions. As a photographer, he had a special interest in abstractions from nature and the human form. As a writer of provocative and philosophical performance poetry, he offered a view of maturity leavened by wit and humor. He pleased audiences with dynamic readings, almost always memorized, and was a uniting force on slam teams. In one Poetry Month marathon, he read at 30 different NYC venues.

He was a photographer, poet, thinker, uncle and fierce friend to those lives he touched.

Maynard worked for and supported environmental advocacy and requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Greenpeace or the Nature Conservancy of Utah.

He was deeply involved with TRUCE Utah and worked tirelessly as an advocate for legalizing medical cannabis.

Maynard is preceded in death by his parents, Howard Dale and Marilyn Morgan; his aunt Joan Nelson, his uncle David Morgan; and his sister, Karen Marilyn Post.

Maynard has donated his body to the University of Utah Body Donor Program, which reflects his lifelong goals of helping others and furthering medical research.

Celebration of life services will be held once the research program has ended.

Please send condolences to 2297 south 1900 west, Ogden, Utah, and in lieu of flowers, donations as noted above.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Salt Lake Tribune from Nov. 18 to Nov. 24, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for James Keller

11 Entries

Malia

November 12, 2024

Hey Jim! Was just talking with Tiia about you with the utmost of poetic ruminations. I hope you are astral projecting your care bear stare across the galaxy, standing on street corners in space using the vibrations of the universe as your harpsicord. Love always!

Malia

November 13, 2023

Jim bought me an old computer to support my writing. He bought it from an old professor who had passed away and when he gave me the computer he told me all kinds of fascinating things about her life. He also wrote an anthology about some of the people he went to high school with. He really found excitement in peoples stories whether they were academics or poets or blue collar workers. I recently found a folder he made me that had a print out of all of our texts and it was so fun to read. Thanks so much for your friendship!

Ken Knobler

June 12, 2023

Our friendship at RSH and Home 29 with all the others in our circle of friends was quite rewarding. I think about it often and am glad to have visited you in Monsey and Spring Valley, New York. On your visit here we enjoyed hearing your poetry. Jon and Marty still chat sometimes about meeting you on our visit in Monsey. Marilee and I chat occasionally. Your name comes up often and i hope we are all still buds! Good friends are forever. Until next time...

Tricia Bissett

July 5, 2022

Maynard was a great friend. My heart hurts that he passed away, I so miss his humor. I look forward to reunitinging with my buddy on the other side. Such a magnificat soul.

Malia Gillette

April 11, 2022

Bye Jim, wish I could've talked to you before you went into the great psychadelium. I like that his 30 poems in 30 days is mentioned here. One of those days he couldn't find a venue and did his own one man poetry on the corner of an intersection to make sure he completed his mission. I met him at cup of Joe's like many others. We went to Austin in the RV to the slam nationals and from there became lifelong friends. His poems were inspiring and definitely had a particularly recognizable voice and very recognizable hand gestures. He's the only wizard I knew that could pull off wearing a floral sarong, I can say that much.

Nancy Alexander

December 16, 2021

I´m glad you got to meet me daughter in Fl, and it was of you to contact me while I was in LA. Your intelligence and caring spirit will be missed.

Lori Sachartof

December 15, 2021

Jim was a very dear and old friend of mine for many years. I met him in his Jewelry business in NY in the late 70´s. He was so unique, talented, intellectual, philosophical and a great friend who had a lasting impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today, if It wasn´t for him. I´m so saddened to have read the news of his passing today. We were hoping to reconnect in Utah in the New Year. You will be greatly missed.

Wendels

December 4, 2021

Maynard was a great friend and poet. Gracing our stage with his poetry and wit. Maynard, you will always be in our hearts. You are sorely missed. It won´t be the same without you, from all of us at Rockland Poets <3

Kathy Marriott

November 25, 2021

Honored to have been your friend! We will surely miss you Maynard! Peace

Gene Hofeling

November 23, 2021

Very sad to read of my freind Jim Keller's passing. I met him at the University of Utah and re established freindship a few years ago in Ogden and on Face Book. I always admired his intelligence and energy.

Kathy Rekoutis aka PurpleMoose

November 19, 2021

I'm sorry for your loss. Jim's passing is a loss to the poetry scene. He was very inspirational for me to step out into my own creativity and be a part of it all.

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