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and seized three front-row tickets, only to find out from the usher that they
were in the front row of the third balcony (from which Carreras was a distant
pinhead) rather than the floor. Always able to find a silver lining, Keith
praised the superior acoustics and view of the Gaudiesque venue from the
trio’s lofty perch.
Keith loved chocolate, including Purdy’s dark chocolate and a special hot
chocolate concoction prepared for him daily in the pre-COVID-19 Farris
kitchen. One articled student (an aspiring real estate solicitor) thrilled to be
working with Keith on the Metrotown rezoning in the 1980s found that his
first assignment, partway through their drive to Burnaby city hall, was to
run into a fast food restaurant to buy Keith a double chocolate milkshake as
fuel for Keith’s upcoming presentation to council.
Keith and Mary Jane travelled widely and well. He researched what to
see and do at planned destinations. Proud of his family’s roots, Keith loved
to visit Scotland and the United Kingdom more generally. He once invited
a bagpiper into their hotel room to serenade Mary Jane while she took a
shower. He loved Hawaiian sunsets. He was also immensely fond of Italy.
After speaking with Keith, an older Italian client remarked he had learned
from Keith new things about his own country. Keith invited colleagues
about to travel to Italy to educational lunches to share his insights.
One of Keith’s traits was to bring conversations to an abrupt close. One of
his former juniors attributes this to the fact that Keith was so much farther
ahead. He would suddenly decide the discussion was done, sometimes in
mid-sentence (rather disconcerting for a junior anxious to ensure Keith’s
instructions had accurately been captured). His sudden passing, some have
said, may simply have been another example of Keith sensing, in advance
of those around him, that it was time to conclude. For those who knew him,
however, that end came too soon. Keith’s kindness, loyalty, enthusiasm and
thoughtfulness left a mark on many. His spirit will be carried on by those
whose lives he touched.
Family, friends and Farris LLP colleagues
ENDNOTES
1. Irene Taylor, “Managing Partner Profile: Farris,
Vaughan, Wills & Murphy – Seamless Leadership
with a High Performance Team”, Lexpert (October
2000) 109 at 110.
2. Ibid at 109.