Date: Thu 12/16/04 10:10AM
Frassom: Steve Smith
Email:
Message: August 30, 2004
Dear John, Carol and family,
I really liked Keith. I first met him as a student in one of my courses at the RMBL sometime in the early 1990s. Then he had very long hair, down to the middle of his back. I don\'t recall the details, but I know he made some kind of bet with his roommates at the RMBL, which he lost. The result was getting his head shaved. Keith took it all in good-natured stride. I think that is one of the many things I always admired about him: He always accepted responsibility for his decisions and lived up to his commitments. If he lost a bet, you knew Keith would make good on it. If he said he\'d come over to help you do something, you could count on Keith being there.
Keith was a hard worker and really loved field biology. It didn\'t matter if he was working on his own project or helping someone else, he threw himself into the work, never complaining, happy to be working with his hands and trying to make sense of the natural world.
He was also a wonderfully creative man. His song writing and singing were personal, deep, intense, and never trite. He could draw and sketch. He was a poet. He did very clever origami. I thoroughly enjoyed his artistic dimensions.
I never knew a person who was so adept at bridging cultural differences as Keith was. Whether he was speaking Spanish to our Kingsville students, talking cattle with a rancher, biology with a game warden, or chatting with the convicts who sometimes worked on the Chaparral Wildlife Management Area, Keith was at ease. What a rare and wonderful gift!
It was a joy to have Keith as a student. I was first impressed with him at RMBL because of his creative thinking ability. I was both flattered and surprised when he asked if I would be interested in having him as a graduate student because not too many students were willing travel to South Texas to pursue their graduate education when there were so many opportunities in more aesthetic settings. I always thought that Keith kind of enjoyed Texas, he seemed to embrace it as an adventure, as an interesting life experience. He even played at the stereotype: First came the cowboy hat, then the boots, later a belt buckle, finally a truck and a gun rack. He used to say that all he need now was an oil well! I used to kid him about his transformation to a Texan. He wasn\'t really a Texan, but I think playing the stereotype was his way of experiencing the landscape.
Keith enjoyed working with and studying mammals, which are my first love, too. He didn\'t particularly enjoy studying birds, though. I tried to get him fired up about birds in my ornithology course, but it just didn\'t take. He still helped to make the course fun. I remember at least two occasions where Keith left his field notebook on top of his truck and drove off, leaving it to the side of the road. Maybe he was trying to make a point!
Keith worked hard to finish his thesis. There were times when I wasn\'t sure that he would finish, but he did. I was very proud of the fine job he did during the oral defense of his thesis.
It\'s sometimes difficult to walk the fine line between faculty mentor and friend with your students. The aphorism is \"Friendly with all, friend to none\". My role was to mentor Keith through his graduate program, but my unavoidable desire was to listen to his music, drink a beer with him, talk philosophy, politics or Edward Abbey, in short, to be his friend. But Keith understood that boundary between friendship and advisor, and as we became friends he always respected my role as advisor when I had to wear that hat; he never took advantage of our friendship.
Keith was also a friend to my family. My girls adored him. He was excited about their growing interest in learning Spanish, because he was excited about the Spanish language. Keith showed them how do some origami. As I recall, he even babysat for us a time or two. I\'ll never forget Keith unselfishly escorting Tracy, Jen and OB (my wife, one of my daughters and my bloodhound) from Kingsville to California when we relocated to northern California. It was going to be logistically difficult for me to travel to Kingsville and help them drive out. It was typical for Keith to offer to help.
I can\'t begin to find the words that adequately express my sorrow about Keith. I\'m struggling to find a rational way to understand a tragedy that probably has no rational explanation. He was a complex multi-faceted person. I knew only a few of those facets for just a few of his years, but
I knew him as a loving son and brother,
As a philosopher, artist, and musician,
As a computer wiz, scientist, and linguist,
As a student,
And, mostly as a friend…
I\'m going to miss him
Steve Smith
Date: Thu 12/16/04 10:13AM
From: Amy Bensen Chambers
Email:
Message: As long as I have known Keith, he always spoke of you both with such profound love and respect. He always talked about how important you were in his life, how grateful and lucky he felt to know that no matter what was going on in his life, be it a high or low point, you two were always there with love, support, encouragement and advice.
Keith made such an impression on everyone he knew. When we were housemates in Boulder, so many people had warm feelings for Keith and he always had a steady flow of visitors who sought him out for his friendship and humor. In Gothic, there were, and are, so many people that loved him and he brought such a unique presence to the place.
Date: Thu 12/16/04 10:47AM
From: JL Egremy
Email:
Message: When I first met Keith, I was new to Kingsville. I had gotten my first real job as a biologist and was very scared and very uneasy about the whole situation. I went to my first work meeting and I met Tracy Smith (Dr. Smith’s wife). Tracy was my boss and at the end of the meeting she asked me if I had finally moved all my stuff from Laredo. I was telling her that I had not because my car was small and I was too broke to rent a U-haul. As we were speaking, I saw a guy with a pair of very worn sandals, and he was wearing some beaten up soiled cargo pants and a tank top. I saw this guy get closer to us, as he did, I thought to myself, who is this guy? I did not know what to think of him. He started talking to Tracy and then Tracy introduced him to me. She said “this is Keith Krakauer, a new grad student and a very good friend of ours”. Keith shook my hand and told me he had overheard me say that I needed help to move my stuff from Laredo. I was shocked to hear that a complete stranger had offered to help me. All sorts of things went through my mind. I thought the worst things and then I thought, wait a minute, he is a grad student (just like me), he just moved to Texas, and he seems to be very close to my boss, so he cannot be that bad. After a minute or so of thinking I accepted Keith’s help.
The following morning he promptly showed up at my apt., and we hit the road. Keith never looked at a map, and I did not want to question this stranger about his sense of direction. As we were driving down to the border we started talking and got carried away with all topics of conversation. I was actually enjoying talking with Keith. It wasn’t until later that I realized we were not going in the right direction. Normally a trip to Laredo from Kingsville takes just about two hours. At his point I felt comfortable with Keith and asked him if he knew where he was going. He looked at me and said “I have no idea where I’m going”. We were in route to the border, but the wrong border town. The trip turned out to be a very long trip, it took us about 4 hours to get to Laredo. While we were on the road, we had to cross a checkpoint. Less than a couple yards away from the checkpoint we saw a tortoise crossing the road. Keith immediately stops and pulled over to the side of the road. We helped the tortoise to the other side of the highway and as we looked up towards the van, we saw the border patrol all around us. The officers were questioning us as of our behavior and asked if we were smuggling drugs or people. We assured them that we did not. We told them about the tortoise, but they did not believe us. They asked if they could take a look at the van and before we could say yes they jumped on the van and searched inch by inch throughout the van. The only item they found was a gallon of bleach that Keith had forgotten to take out of his van. They questioned us for a couple more minutes and they finely let us go on our way. When we arrived at Laredo, Keith wanted to go across to get a Mexican corn on the cob. We did so. We were in Mexico for maybe 30 minutes and then went back to the American side. Keith never asked for anything as payment for his help. The only thing he asked for was that corn on the cob. We loaded all my stuff and headed back to Kingsville. We arrived fairly late in Kingsville that night. I can assure you that that day I met my best friend. Keith and I shared so much together. We were neighbors, roommates, and grad students. Keith my friend, my confident, and taught me a lot about life. I had never met anyone in my life like your son. Keith has always been a person to remember and I can honestly say that I loved your son. Keith was very close and dear to me. I will always cherish his memory and will feel blessed to have met such a wonderful man. On his passing, it was very difficult and stressful time for me. I still feel the pain in my heart, but my soul is at peace. I do understand now where he got the spirit he had. He got it from both of you. You made my pain dissolve and stopped my soul from mourning. The same love and peace that you made us feel that day at your home is what Keith professed throughout his life.
Date: Thu 12/16/04 11:05AM
From: Molly Godshaw
Email:
Message: Many years ago Keith took the trouble to make his way out to “the country” to visit us, unfortunately when he arrived I was at the hospital my father had just left this world and Keith was so sympathetic and kind to me, so although I did not know him well I shall remember how he was at that time.
(From England)
Date: Thu 12/16/04 11:10AM
From: Julia Godshaw
Email:
Message: Keith was such a sweet and kind person. He treated everybody with respect and love. I loved how Keith always made time for his family especially for his little cousin who adored him. Keith left me with many wonderful memories to remember him by, I will always remember Keith’s beautiful origami boxes, birds and sailboats. Keith knew how to take a plain piece of paper and make it art. Another thing that I will always remember about Keith is his singing and playing his guitar. My favorite memory of Keith is in Mexico. We had hiked up an island and we were at the bottom when Keith found a coconut and split it for us to drink its milk. We then spent the rest of the day swimming on an empty beach. I loved Keith and I know that I already miss his kind spirit.
Date: Thu 12/16/04 11:28AM
From: Kristine Lopez
Email:
Message: I met Keith seven years ago when I was a freshman in college. I remember thinking what a handsome man he was. This initial thought was surpassed by his intelligence and sincere kindness. In the years I knew him he always had a kind word for everyone. He quickly made friends with so many people, and I know he was equally and genuinely well liked. I count myself very lucky to have known him and to have been his friend. I have many wonderful memories of Keith. I realize it’s a small consolation, but know that I will remember him.
Date: Thu 12/16/04 11:30AM
From: Rachel Turiel
Email:
Message: I am so saddened to know that this world has lost the blessing of Keith’s presence. It is so painful to lose someone who shared so much generosity, compassion and laughter with this world.
I lived with Keith in Boulder from the summer of 1994 – summer of 1995. Keith showed me the desert and took me on my first backpacking trip. I think Keith was happiest when he was sharing with people. It could be as simple as sharing a meal or his guitar talents. Oftentimes his happiness came from helping others directly-cleaning up the house and grounds after Chris and Amy’s wedding or driving with the Smith’s to California. He was so quick and easy to give and touched so many people with this quality. When I lived with Keith I remember people gravitating towards him, wanting to be near his honesty, laughter and enthusiasm for the world. I know Keith had another side, I remember his depressed times too. I just had no idea how much he suffered. I hope you know that you two were a shinning light in his life and it was so important for him to spend time with you. May Keith’s memory help us all to be better people.
Date: Thu 12/16/04 5:28PM
From: Janet Strauss
Email:
Message: I’ve been thinking about Keith a great deal, trying to make sense out of this. The thing I always return to is the simple fact that I loved Keith dearly. He was a rare and beautiful person in my life. Over the course of the school year we spent together, I felt like we really got to know each other. For me it was the first time I ever met such genuinely decent and kind man. Right before meeting Keith my parent’s had gone through a very messy divorce. I thought I would never trust men again . Keith changed that for me. I don’t know, I think it was how he actually listened and cared. He was a big brother to me during that year and I was heart broken when he left.
I have to say I’m heart broken again. I guess I took for granted that we would see each other again and resume our friendship like no time had passed.
I really do hope he is in a better place. I wanted to thank you for all the kindness you have given me over the years and for raising a wonderful son who touched a lot of people’s lives.
Date: Thu 12/16/04 5:30PM
From: Laura Pless
Email:
Message: Since I spoke with you, John, I have thought about your family a lot. I’m sad that you have lost a wonderful son, and that I have lost a friend and fellow teacher. I am so sorry. Keith will be greatly missed.
I enjoyed Steve’s letter about Keith. Thank you for emailing a copy to me. I am sorry that I didn’t know all those wonderful things about Keith. I wish I had more time with him.
I was impressed with Keith from the moment I met him. It was at the Summit Education Celebration where he gave the most eloquent speech. You would have been so proud of him. He stood in front of 300+ people and spoke so beautifully.
Keith was a natural teacher, and I appreciated his sincere compassion for others, especially the challenged students. He went above and beyond to help them, like Jennifer.
Jennifer has cerebral palsy and Keith tutored her. One night he told her that he was bringing her a gift to the next class. He did! He made her a special clip-board with “anti-slide” material (sorry, I can’t think of the name of the tape), so Jennifer could write in her lap which was a more comfortable position for her. Jennifer loved her gift.
Date: Thu 12/16/04 5:34PM
From: Kristine Lopez
Email:
Message: I met Keith seven years ago when I was a freshman in college. I remember thinking what a handsome man he was. This initial thought was surpassed by his intelligence and sincere kindness. In the years I knew him he always had a kind word for everyone. He quickly made friends with so many people, and I know he was equally well liked. I count myself very lucky to have known him and to have been his friend. I have many wonderful memories of Keith. I realize it’s a small consolation, but know that I will remember him.
Date: Thu 12/16/04 5:39PM
From: Terry LaCome
Email:
Message: Keith was a nice guy. He was very caring and friendly. He was very nice to me. You both still have all the wonderful memories of him. I wanted to tell Keith thank you for the printer he gave me to give to my daughter Tonya for college. She was using it at college and she told me to thank him because it really came in handy and she said she uses it a lot.
Date: Thu 12/16/04 5:42PM
From: Brooke Zanetell
Email:
Message: I knew Keith at RMBL, where his warm heart, laughter, and music touched the hearts of many.
Date: Tue 12/21/04 9:04AM
From: John Krakauer
Email:
Message: Many of Keith’s friends have asked about Clarence.
After spending the summer of 2003 with Keith and Clarence, Carol and John decided to get their own standard poodle, from the same breeder where Clarence had come. In December 2003 we got a half brother of Clarence which we named Bogart.
So now we have two 75 pound dogs, which we adore, in spite of the challenges that having a pair of large dogs brings.
Clarence and Bogart live in the house and are mostly well behaved. They are now going through training and are responding well to more discipline. Poodles are very intelligent dogs, and respond very well to training. Thank goodness.
We live across the street from a large park that is very friendly to dogs. Bogart and Clarence get walked for over a mile almost daily. This really helps.
Date: Fri 01/7/05 11:09AM
From: Melanie
Email: melaniebateman@yahoo.com
Message: Dear Mr. & Mrs. Krakauer,
A friend of mine recently moved to Crested Butte. Talking to him brought back memories of the time I spent at RMBL in the summer of 1996. That flipped a switch in my head and made me want to look up your son, Keith. I found the notice about the scholarship fund and this memorial website. I am so sorry for your loss. I only knew Keith briefly, but I thought he was a wonderful, good-hearted person. RMBL was such a fantastic place, and honestly Keith made everything even better for me and for everyone else. He was funny, a great musician, and good story teller. Even more importantly, he was kind. In small and big ways, he did so many caring, considerate things. I looked up to him for that. I think many of us wish that we could be half as good to other people as Keith was. He made a deep impression on me. I always hoped that somehow, someway I would run into him again.
If you would like, I could send you some pictures of Keith from that summer.
Sincerely, Melanie Bateman
Date: Sat 04/9/05 4:00PM
From: Nathan Wynn
Email: vyoufinder@gmail.com
Message: Keith was among, if not the dearest friend I ever had. The things I read here from the people who knew Keith remind me of him so much and to know that others experienced his non-restrained loving character and that he has touched so many people\'s lives. I think is a tribute to his loveable character and I would like to congratulate him on making himself into such a respectable man and living such an honorable life. Keith was always respectable to the most miniscule detail, and the world has experienced a great citizen gone when we lost Keith. I think he would be happy to know that because he was able to reach so many people in his life and influence them to a great extent in a way that was something like his personality, that he has made this world more bearable for us and for those to come. Rarely does someone live their life as sincerely and as genuinely as did Keith and with such beautiful curiosity. He will never be forgotten through the stories told to friends who knew him and people who never could have. I will always remember our memories camping together in the Alaskan woods next to the lake and I am still considering a Jesus tattoo with a mosquito biting my derriere. Those were some of the best days of my life in part greatly to Keith. Whenever I hear an acoustic version of Free Bird I will always be reminded of the campfire sounds he smoothed the magic of the night with and hear his voice in the crisp night air. Our talks about and attempts at adventures were all worth it without regret forever in my memories.
Sincerely,
Nathan Wynn
Date: Tue 04/19/05 6:20AM
From: Jon Baskin
Email: kfjab02@tamuk.edu
Message: Dear John, Carol and family,
As Steve Smith could tell you, there are not many people that I care for. Keith was one of the exceptions. I miss him dearly. He was more than a breath of fresh air when Steve lured him to Kingsville to be his graduate student. He was a funny and intelligent odd-ball, a definite change of pace from our typical student, the kind of Master\'s student I wish I could have found. My best times with Keith were out in the field. I took my mammalogy classes out to the Chaparral when he was working on his thesis there. You could not asked for a more generous, helpful, and caring host. He made sure that all the students were comfortably settled and fed. He led the late-night charges down the sandy roads catching kangaroo rats with an insect net. The next day, he knew exactly what we were going to find in the several hundred live traps we had set out previously.
A second favorite memory is when he and I went to the Texas Mammal Society meeting together. Since he had to bring Clarence with him, we went in his truck, which was an experience in itself. It was on a cold, clear February day, and on the moonless night the stars were about as bright as I had ever seen. He may have celebrated a little too much that night, but I was pleased to see that he slept in his truck at the field station, rather than drive the winding road back to his (and Clarence=s) motel. But he was sure happy to head back to his dog come sunrise.
He was justly proud of the hard work he had put into collecting data for his thesis, but field work was one thing, writing another. I don\'t know how many times we sat together and talked, especially about doing the statistical analyses. Almost every time, I was sure that I would see a completed draft next week, and I almost reached a point where (like Steve), I thought Keith was never going to finish his thesis.
I remember him coming back to present his thesis defense, he was so nervous, he had way over prepared. We all knew he was going to do a fine job, but he so wanted to be perfect.
And for you and me and Keith
(transliterated)
Y\'hei shlamah rabbah meen sh\'mahyah,v\'chahyeem
aleynu v\'al kohl yisrael, v\'eemru: Amein
Fondly,
Jon Baskin
Date: Sat 07/16/05 8:26PM
From: John Krakauer
Email:
Message: On July 5th, 2005 somebody attempted to make an addition to the memories about Keith. Unfortunately, due to a server error, the message was lost. We are very disappointed to not have this information as complete as possible and would ask that the information be added again.
This is very unfortunate.
John Krakauer
Date: Fri 08/19/05 11:28AM
From: Ingrid Behrens
Email: ingrid.behrens@colostate.edu
Message: To Keith’s family,
I first met Keith at RMBL the summer of 1995. Getting to know him, the following year at Boulder when he lived with Janet and Amy, I found him to be a refreshingly disarming and thoughtful person. I had lost touch with Keith over the last few years and wanted to get back in touch with him when I found out the tragic news. I am deeply saddened by his loss and wished it was some bad dream that we could all wake up from.
As I read some of the letters, I am reminded of what a talented and wonderful person Keith was. He had an incredible sense of humor. I remember marching to graduation with him at CU Boulder. It was a stressful day for me (as I don’t enjoy ceremonies with large crowds). But Keith, in his shorts, cowboy boots, and graduation gown said out of the blue with a mischievous smile: “What? Is this the nazi party rally?”. It cut through the tension like a knife and it still makes me laugh when I think of that moment. That’s how Keith was. He was a warm, bright, caring individual who knew how to set people at ease. I too, like many others loved Keith dearly. I feel very lucky to have met Keith and was honored to be his friend. I will greatly miss him. God broke the mold when he made Keith and I know they are enjoying a good laugh together.
Date: Wed 08/24/05 3:44PM
From: Pamela Iversen-Kamstra
Email: bub@mcn.org
Message: I remember my attempt to e-mail Keith about 7 years ago. I thought about Keith on and off, just wondering how he was doing. I was visiting Joanna Mack and Tiffany Petrossi 2 days ago when they told me about this web site.
If there is one thing that I loved about Keith,it was his great laugh. I could hear him laughing all the way down the breezeway at Saratoga High School.
He also had a magnetic personality and a sweet heart.I wish I had tried harder to stay in touch with him.
Date: Thu 09/1/05 10:49AM
From: Ian Billick
Email: director@rmbl.org
Message: Keith was a wonderful presence at the RMBL. When I think of Keith I think of his warm smile and easy-going ways. He was a gentle soul that always looked at you and never beyond you. I remember spending evenings with Keith, sitting around the campfire at Oh Be Joyful listening to music, talking with friends, and looking at the stars.
The last time I saw Keith was at Amy Benson and Chris Chamber\'s wedding. When he walked up I had no idea who he was. Sporting a cowboy hat and a big buckle south Texas had seriously changed his look. But it was the same Keith. At that time Keith talked about how there was so much bad music in the world and that he wanted to share good music with his friends. Sure enough, several months later I received a compilation of songs put on approximately 10 CDs of music that Keith felt passed the muster. Some of those CDs still travel with me in my truck and every time I listen to them I am reminded of Keith\'s generosity and his intense desire to reach out and make a connection with people.
Date: Sat 09/10/05 11:36PM
From: Rafael Reyes Jr and family
Email: reywife@yahoo.com
Message: I was stunned to find out today of my good friends passing. Keith and Martha were our neighbors in Premont, Texas. He was very friendly, bright and giving. I hadn\'t heard from him since he moved back to Colorado and something told me to look him up today. I am deeply sorry for your loss Keith will be missed by many. He was like a big brother to my three little boys. They\'d help him corral Clarence when he\'d escape, he\'d reward them with a vidoe game or tell them interesting facts about the many animals they encountered. My wife and I spent many Texas nights in front of our house with Keith, his guitar or Sax, or Violin or whatever he happened to bring out of his house that evening. we\'d talk about anything and everything. I\'d tell him stories of the Border Patrol, he\'d tell me stories of Mexico. I will miss his songs, his bright comedy, his intellect, his goodwill, his company, his friendship.
\"They are not dead who live in the hearts they leave behind\"
Adios Mi Amigo
Date: Thu 03/8/07 8:15AM
From: Ari Lokmagozyan
Email:
Message: For a while I didn\'t have the power nor the will to write something down about Keith. Now I feel like something is missing and postponed. I first met Keith in 1998 in Kingsville, TX. When we met, we had no clue that we were not only going to be best friends, but that we were also brothers. He was a different but friendly person. Being a foreigner I was keeping distant from places and people that I did not know and while I was unsure of him at first, I found out quickly that he was one who was the salt of the earth and was someone in my life that always had a friendly smile, a non-judgmental ear, and an available couch to crash on. As time passed by we got to know each other and became buddies drinking, singing and spending awesome happy times at the bars beaches school and home until I moved to Los Angeles. Even after I moved, we still saw each other as often as we could and I always knew he would be my best man at my wedding one day. I just didn\'t know that my time with him would not be as long as expected it to be....
I will never get used to the idea of him not being around to share more happy times with and now that I am a father and I named my son after my friend, my best man, my brother, my family, I wanted to re-visit his memory and I feel I have set the course back on track by honoring Keith\'s open heart and quite nobleness. I am comforted by the fact that his spirit will continue to live out amongst those of us who sometimes need help remembering what is really important in this life.
Until we meet again, my friend.
Ari Lokmagozyan
Date: Wed 11/14/07 6:15AM
From: Lisa Ann Jungemann
Email:
Message: Hello, me and a friend had traveled with Keith in Baja Mexico back in 1996... The first time I saw him I was like oh my god who is that...What a handsome and smiling man. We all became friends and we went around to all sorts of places for three weeks. We had meet in Santa Rosalia I believe. We all camped out the beach on the Playa de Raoul in Conception Bay, under the stars with Keith singing us every night Angels from Montgomery. We had seen one night the flourescent plankton in the water, Keith amused himself jumping in the water and splashing around, we also saw plenty of falling stars on that beach. One day too we tried to catch fish by hitting them with sticks needless to say we didnt catch any but later Keith had met some fisherman and brought us back some that we cooked in the fire. I remember him and his small notebook that he would write down all the spanish he learned with a lot of enthusiasm. He also really loved playing pool and we made our way around various poolhalls. Our last stop was La Paz where we all rented a room together. Keith was so kind and I really love him, I have a tatoo on my leg that represents Keith (he would always say that he wished he had eagle eyes.) That day he tatooed a box on his leg. He was very sharing and wanted to sing his songs for everyone. One night in la Paz Keith and I went to a bar that would let him play he sang all kinds of ccr, he was so happy. The last time I saw him was on his birthday 23 december 1996, he was leaving to meet up with family in Mazatlan, I gave him a blue pearl for a gift, because La Paz is or was formally know as La Perla. So I gave him a rare pearl like him. I will never forget Keith and have often tried to find him, I also left La Paz a few days after his departure for Maxatlan hoping to find him... i didn't. I called him back in sept or Oct. of 1997 he had just returned from traveling south of Mexico. He told me about his adventures and singing in some restaurant, maybe in costa rica... He really was so nice to everyone he met and so smiling, he took a lot of pictures when we where together of us all my truck my dogs I can imagine all of these moments in my head and I see and hear him. Take care whereever you are Keith I will never ever forget you.
Thank you for being such a wonderful man..
Lisa Ann Jungemann