Longtime area coach, teacher Tim Keeler passes away

Tim Keeler, a longtime teacher and coach with Whittier area high schools, passed away Thursday morning following a short illness.
Keeler coached baseball, football and wrestling, among other sports, at Cal, La Serna and Whittier high schools. He also taught photography and videography and worked in local television for many years.
“He was one of the most caring guys, most unselfish guys I’ve known,” said Cal AD Jim Arnold. “It was never about him. … He would do anything for the kids.”
Keeler often produced highlight videos for student-athletes to send to college recruiters.
“Everybody loved Keeler,” said Cal High wrestling coach Doug Loo, for whom Keeler was an assistant coach. “He was a good guy, a good teacher, a good coach. He had a big heart.”
Loo said he received over 100 texts Thursday from students, former wrestlers and colleagues, all deeply saddened by Keeler’s death.
“He was one of us and a part of our program forever,” Loo said. “He was always looking out for my guys.”
Funeral services will be private, but a public memorial is being planned.
Cal High senior Jared Ibey was a student of Keeler’s, and learned the basics of photography and videography in Keeler’s classes.
“He was an awesome teacher,” Ibey said. “Whenever you had any questions, he would stop whatever he was doing and tell you how to make it better.”

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