There’s No Crying in Baseball
Kind, loving, funny, and sensitive, Jeff Keene embodied the ideal family man. He served his country in the Navy for ten years before joining the workforce in trades, all the while loving the great outdoors. Fishing, hunting, cooking, and camping, especially in Florida, were Jeff’s prime leisure activities. Industrious in nature, Jeff taught himself the trades he needed to build a home for his wife Amy, daughter Cori, and son Zac. His best friends Brett and Barry, his cousins Stephanie, and Shaun, his aunt Claire and his uncle Steve all reveled in his fireside storytelling, endless teasing, and rambunctious laughter.
At the age of eight, Jeff moved in with his aunt and uncle, becoming a dynamic and entertaining member of their family for the following eleven years until his time in the military. Though frequent trips to Florida separated them, he still made it home for holidays to enjoy games, massive meals, and make memories. He loved long talks in the kitchen and watching his kids grow and learn, and he never let an opportunity for a prank pass him by.
Private and humble, his biggest goal was to be the best father he could be. A people pleaser to his core, when Jeff was substance free, he was upbeat, cheerful, and chatty for hours at a time. However, when substance use disorder took over, he grew morose and guilt-ridden, apologizing endlessly and shamed into disappearing. His family watched helplessly as he struggled, burdened by worry, yet unsure of how to positively affect his circumstances. They chased his shadow, worrying where he was and who had seen him last.
On November 17, 2017, Jeff succumbed to substance use disorder. In the wake of his passing, his cousin Stephanie says, “We felt like we never gave enough or gave him the time he needed from us. Sometimes we feel like we just didn’t give enough of ourselves to help him.” To honor him, and to see the impact of his life continue beyond that November day, the family commits to changing the narrative on substance use disorder and the stigma around it. She states, “We are less judgmental, because [you] really don’t know what someone has gone through. You don’t know what they struggled with.”
Jeff’s smile, laughter, and legacy remain in the hearts and memories of those he left behind, including his children, his biggest source of pride.
Jeff’s cousin, Stephanie Barnes, and aunt, Claire Sleeper, provided the information for this narrative.
August 11, 1967-November 17, 2017-Age 50
Portrait Artist: Jeremy Hebbel
Narrative Writer: Jill Denton
