Mary Ann Keeler

Mary Ann Keeler passed away on January 14, 2021. Born Mary Ann Lynch on August 28, 1925 she was the daughter of Joseph Patrick Lynch and Ellen Johanna Lynch. In 1948 she married Miner Spaulding Keeler who passed away May 11, 2003. She is survived by their three children who she cherished and considered to be the joy of her life; Anne Harrington Keeler, Pacific Palisades, CA, Isaac Spaulding Keeler II, Jenison, MI and Mary Steketee Costigan (Shay) of Holland, MI. Also surviving her are her grandchildren Grey Melcher (Brianne), Bailey, Nicole and Miner Keeler and Hunter and Phoebe Bronkema; great-grandchildren, Francine and Mina Melcher and many nieces and nephews and wonderful friends. Her grandson, Winston Melcher, passed away in 2010.  Preceding her in death were her brothers Joseph Lynch and his wife Patsy of Washington DC, Daniel Lynch and his wife Mary Lee of Grand Rapids, Philip Lynch and his wife Jean of Grand Rapids, and her sister Joan Muzzall of Grand Rapids.  Mary Ann earned a degree in English Literature and Journalism from St. Mary’s of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, graduating Magna Cum Laude and worked at the Grand Rapids Press. She later began work on her Master’s Degree at the University of Michigan. The gifts of Mary Ann Keeler, her beloved late husband and their Foundation are part of the lives of every individual who has strolled the streets of Grand Rapids; but the monetary donations are far exceeded by the time and energy Mary Ann contributed to her lifelong passion for making art accessible to all people. She was born and raised in Grand Rapids, loved this City and developed a passion to see its citizens benefit from art and education. In the early 1950’s while a member of the Grand Rapids Symphony Board she started the Grand Rapids Symphony Adult Choir which still exists today. She served on the Cultural Committee for four Grand Rapids mayors and became active with her husband in downtown revitalization and philanthropy. She supported him in the placement of the Alexander Calder stabile La Grande Vitesse and donated 3 mobiles to the Grand Rapids Art Museum to show his other type of work. In 1969 she was especially interested in, and played a leadership role to include a performing arts hall in the Civic Auditorium Expansion, later called DeVos Place. She conceived, initiated and worked through the process that placed the 6700 square foot painting “The Grand” by Alexis Smith in the Keeler Foyer of that performing arts hall. In 1973 she was part of the Grand Rapids Art Museum Women’s Committee Sculpture Off the Pedestal Show, selling four sculptures and serving as chairman for the placement of Mark di Suvero’s sculpture Our Year’s What? For Marianne Moore at the federal building. These experiences fueled her commitment to bring sculptures by major contemporary artists to public places in Grand Rapids so people going about their daily lives would begin to understand the sculpture of today, and eventually resulted in the placement of a second Mark di Suvero sculpture Motu Viget at the Gerald R. Ford Federal Building in 1977. As a member of the Site Committee she played a key role in the decision to locate the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in downtown Grand Rapids and served on the committee that chose the sculpture “Man in Space” by Judson Nelson to be placed there. She was appointed to the Governor’s Special Commission on Art in State Buildings by Governor Milliken and helped write the legislation that would insure art placed at state buildings would be of high quality. This Commission was responsible for establishing the jury system for artist selection and resulted in the placement of Michael Heizer’s sculpture This Equals That on the state capitol plaza. She served as a panelist at the 11th International Sculpture Conference in Washington DC and the Calder 40th Anniversary event at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in in 2009. From 1989 to 1993 she served on the President’s Advisory Committee on Arts for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC and also served as a member of the National Committee of the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City from 1991 to 1995. The shadow of Mary Ann and Mike’s philanthropy covers libraries, scholarships, human service organizations, catholic organizations, health facilities and art organizations. She was named to the Grand Valley State University Foundation Advisory Board in 2005 and has served as an honorary member of the Sculpture Committee for the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. In recognition of their dedication to all forms of art she and Mike received the Arts Council of Greater Grand Rapids Art Award, the Governor’s Civic Leader Art Award, the Emeritus Award for Cultural Enrichment from Aquinas College and the 1993 Bravo Award from the Grand Rapids Symphony. In 2005 she received an Honorary Degree of Fine Arts from Aquinas College and in 2009 an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from Grand Valley State University. In 2011 she received Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice Cross papal honor conferred upon her by Pope Benedict XVI. In accordance with her request, cremation has taken place and there will be no formal service. The immediate family will be celebrating her life in a private mass to be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Stephens Catholic Church.

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