Keith
H. Malcolm, 54, passed away unexpectedly
at home on August 19, 2006 . He was born
in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on June 20,
1952 to James Arthur Malcolm and Kate Howard
Abney. Keith
graduated from Trent University, Peterborough,
Ontario, with a B. A. in English in 1976.
It was at Trent University that he met the
love of his life, “Mimi” , and they moved
to Toronto where Keith worked and Mimi attended
Seneca College of Nursing. Immediately after
her graduation they moved to Toledo , Ohio
where Keith obtained his Teaching Certification
( 1980) and his Masters Degree in English
(1981). After several years of substitute
teaching he found the job of his dreams
at Whitmer High School teaching English
and English Honors. Keith
loved teaching and was held in high regard
by his peers. He received one of the TAWLS
Outstanding Teacher of the Year Awards in
2002 – 2003 and was affectionately nicknamed
the “Grammar Guru”. Keith was always
trying to think of new ways to inspire his
students and teach them life skills as well
as academics. He was a talented musician
and used his guitars, drum machine and other
instruments as teaching aids, as well as
giving free guitar lessons to students.
He has received letters of thanks from some
of his former students over the years were
some of his most prized possessions and
he kept them all. He really cared about
his students. He also served as a baseball
coach on his children's elementary level
teams and served 3 years as Assistant Hockey
Coach at Whitmer.
He
adored his family and was immensely proud
of his children. Keith was very loving and
made sure that his loved ones knew how much
he loved them on a daily basis. He loved
to spend time with them playing cards, Shove
Ha' Penney (an English game he also taught
his students), Scrabble- or just sitting
and talking to them. He especially loved
camping in the summer in Ontario from which
he had just returned. He was an avid roller-blader
and could be seen blading over the area
on nice mornings. He recently took up cycling
as well.
It
may be that he will be most remembered for
his guitar playing and singing. Keith had
a wonderful voice and was a gifted musician.
He could play his guitar and harmonica at
the same time and always got any party singing
and dancing. His music was daily part of
his existence and brought him much joy all
his life. It was a gift he loved to share
with others.
Keith
will be deeply missed and forever cherished
by his much loved wife of 29 years, Mary
Anne “Mimi” Lindecker; sons Ian and James
and daughter Kerry all of Toledo; mother,
Kate Malcolm, of Toronto, Canada, and many
wonderful nieces, nephews, cousins and caring
friends across the United States and Canada.
He is preceded in death by his father, James
A. Malcolm, and a daughter, Marianne Katherine
Malcolm. The
family will receive at Pawlak Funeral Home,
1640 Smith Road , Temperance, Michigan.
On Friday, August 25, 2006, from 3-8 p.m.
Funeral Services will be Saturday at 11:00
a.m. at Pawlak Funeral Home. Interment will
follow at The Historic Woodlawn Cemetery,
Toledo .
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