The Kelley School of Business at IUPUI remembers Howard Keller, a long-time faculty member who made a significant impact on the entire Kelley family.
Howard, a senior lecturer in accounting, passed away in May after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. He served the Kelley School for 42 years, first teaching part-time in 1976 and then full-time in 1981.
Howard was a proud father, an avid cyclist, a dedicated teacher and the first to welcome many faculty and staff to the fourth floor of the Kelley building. He was a constant in the faculty hallways: To many, he’d been there as long as they could remember.
A quiet and private person, Howard made lasting and impactful relationships with dozens of his colleagues. After his passing, an email chain continued for days at the Kelley School, as faculty and staff recalled moments when Howard had impacted their lives – Whether it was helping fellow teachers or being the first to welcome them aboard, a shared interest in Indiana high school and college basketball, honest and candid observations about “almost any subject,” that twinkle in his eye as he joked with that dry sense of humor, bringing a brownie to a colleague after a visit to Long’s Bakery or discussing the Indy 500.
“He felt at home at Kelley; it meant everything to him,” said JR Keller, Howard’s son. “He had these deep and lasting conversations with colleagues, and I’d be like, ‘What?! Who is this guy?!’ Then, he’d go into the classroom and have this loud, commanding and energetic presence. It was this whole other side to him, where he could be his authentic self.”