Two generations of the Mahlow family attended Friday’s memorial service for Tim Keeler at Cal High.
Father Jeff played baseball for Keeler at La Serna in 1994 and 1995, and always remembered his coach fondly.
“His love for the game and the love for his players,” Mahlow said when asked for his memories of Keeler. “He was always willing to go that extra step for his players.”
Andrew Mahlow, the son, is now a Cal senior as well as a former student and teacher’s assistant in Keeler’s photography class. Jeff was thrilled when he knew his son would also fall under Keeler’s strong influence, and the teacher promised his former player he’d keep an eye on Andrew.
“It was fun working with (Keeler),” Andrew said. “He was funny and helpful.”
Several hundred people attended Friday’s ceremony, including Whittier mayor pro tem Cathy Warner, and many wore T-shirts that read Be #keelerstrong. Many students and Cal staff members wrote personal messages to Keeler on a large banner hung on the gym wall. Cal’s Chamber Choir performed beautifully three times during the 50-minute memorial.