TicketsMarch 30, 2017 CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati Department of Athletics mourns the loss of former swimmer William Keating Jr.
Keating, a standout and great philanthropist, died Wednesday after a battle with cancer at the age of 63.
"We've lost a terrific representative of our University, athletic and community," Director of Athletics Mike Bohn said. "Bill Keating Jr. was a passionate leader who was very passionate about UC, the Bearcats and women's athletics. We will miss his dedication, and knowledge. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Joan, daughters Liz and Caroline, sons Joe, Paul and Jack and the entire Keating family."
Keating's ties to the Bearcats run deep as he not only has helped to further opportunities for girls and women in the area, but he also competed for the UC swim team in the mid-1970's and was inducted into the James P. Kelly UC Athletics Hall of Fame in 1992 and the UCATS Order of the Black Blazer in 2007.
He was the third Keating inducted into UC's athletics hall of fame, joining his father William Keating Sr., the namesake of UC's Keating Aquatics Center, a former Hamilton County judge who served on Cincinnati City Council and his uncle Charles, UC's first-ever NCAA individual champion.
A two-time team captain, Keating qualified for the NCAA Championships all four years and helped the Bearcats to league titles. The Jimmy Nippert Award recipient (most outstanding senior male student-athlete), Keating left UC with seven school and five conference records to his name. He was inducted into Sophos, Sigma and Metro honoraries and served as president of Sigma Sigma.
Keating was a three-time graduate of UC, earning his bachelor's degree, MBA and degree from the University. He practiced law at the Downtown law firm Keating Muething & Klekamp for almost 40 years.
He served on UC's Board of Trustees from 1981-90. He also sat on the UC College of Business Board of Advisors and as vice chair of the UC Center for Entrepreneurship. In 2013, UC honored Keating with its Alumni Distinguished Service Award.
He was active in the girls and women's sports community in the Greater Cincinnati area for more than 35 years. He worked with both UC and Xavier to sell out the women's Crosstown Shootout and chaired an effort to retroactively award varsity letters former female student-athletes at UC.
A strong supporter of the growth of girls' and women's athletics, he was selected for the WE Celebrate Empowerment Award in 2017, which acknowledges a person whose mentoring, coaching and advocacy contributions have made a significant impact on the careers of women.
Keating was honored twice by the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Women's Sports Association being named the winner of the 2012 Special Recognition Award the 2017 Donna DeVarona Spirit Award.
The U.S. Olympic Committee honored Keating in the fall of 2016 for his work with disabled athletes. The Big East Conference had honored him for his outstanding contribution to girls and women in sports and the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber honored him in 2015 with its Women Empowerment Award. In addition, the Lindner College of Business has honored him with its Distinguished Service Award.
For the last 16-plus years, Keating emailed a "Thought of the Day" to family members and friends. The email began with a quote and ended with a call to action. Over time, the list swelled to thousands of people. The final thought from Keating arrived in inboxes Thursday morning with an original quote, "To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die."
He is survived by his wife, Joan; daughters Liz and Caroline; sons Joe, Paul and Jack; his father, Williams Sr.; mother, Nancy; brothers Mike, Dan, Tom and John; sisters Nancy Roe and Susie Lame; and two grandchildren.
In lieu of memorials, the family asks people to volunteer their time or contribute monetarily to a charity of their choice.
Keating, a standout and great philanthropist, died Wednesday after a battle with cancer at the age of 63.
"We've lost a terrific representative of our University, athletic and community," Director of Athletics Mike Bohn said. "Bill Keating Jr. was a passionate leader who was very passionate about UC, the Bearcats and women's athletics. We will miss his dedication, and knowledge. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Joan, daughters Liz and Caroline, sons Joe, Paul and Jack and the entire Keating family."
Keating's ties to the Bearcats run deep as he not only has helped to further opportunities for girls and women in the area, but he also competed for the UC swim team in the mid-1970's and was inducted into the James P. Kelly UC Athletics Hall of Fame in 1992 and the UCATS Order of the Black Blazer in 2007.
He was the third Keating inducted into UC's athletics hall of fame, joining his father William Keating Sr., the namesake of UC's Keating Aquatics Center, a former Hamilton County judge who served on Cincinnati City Council and his uncle Charles, UC's first-ever NCAA individual champion.
A two-time team captain, Keating qualified for the NCAA Championships all four years and helped the Bearcats to league titles. The Jimmy Nippert Award recipient (most outstanding senior male student-athlete), Keating left UC with seven school and five conference records to his name. He was inducted into Sophos, Sigma and Metro honoraries and served as president of Sigma Sigma.
Keating was a three-time graduate of UC, earning his bachelor's degree, MBA and degree from the University. He practiced law at the Downtown law firm Keating Muething & Klekamp for almost 40 years.
He served on UC's Board of Trustees from 1981-90. He also sat on the UC College of Business Board of Advisors and as vice chair of the UC Center for Entrepreneurship. In 2013, UC honored Keating with its Alumni Distinguished Service Award.
He was active in the girls and women's sports community in the Greater Cincinnati area for more than 35 years. He worked with both UC and Xavier to sell out the women's Crosstown Shootout and chaired an effort to retroactively award varsity letters former female student-athletes at UC.
A strong supporter of the growth of girls' and women's athletics, he was selected for the WE Celebrate Empowerment Award in 2017, which acknowledges a person whose mentoring, coaching and advocacy contributions have made a significant impact on the careers of women.
Keating was honored twice by the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Women's Sports Association being named the winner of the 2012 Special Recognition Award the 2017 Donna DeVarona Spirit Award.
The U.S. Olympic Committee honored Keating in the fall of 2016 for his work with disabled athletes. The Big East Conference had honored him for his outstanding contribution to girls and women in sports and the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber honored him in 2015 with its Women Empowerment Award. In addition, the Lindner College of Business has honored him with its Distinguished Service Award.
For the last 16-plus years, Keating emailed a "Thought of the Day" to family members and friends. The email began with a quote and ended with a call to action. Over time, the list swelled to thousands of people. The final thought from Keating arrived in inboxes Thursday morning with an original quote, "To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die."
He is survived by his wife, Joan; daughters Liz and Caroline; sons Joe, Paul and Jack; his father, Williams Sr.; mother, Nancy; brothers Mike, Dan, Tom and John; sisters Nancy Roe and Susie Lame; and two grandchildren.
In lieu of memorials, the family asks people to volunteer their time or contribute monetarily to a charity of their choice.