Keyes died unexpectedly on Oct. 6 at his home in Pelham, Mass. He was 76 years old.
Perhaps the most poignant memories were offered by Keyes' family. "It was a cold February day in 1928, and there was a surprise in the crib-a brother," said Dorothy Keyes, Keyes' sister. "Now Bobby's in heaven looking down and he just loves what's going on down here."
Rev. William N. Ault, Keyes' son-in-law, joked about Keyes' sometimes tough personality. "Thirty years ago I arrived as the boyfriend-if you think you got a hard time in the cafeteria, you can imagine what it was like for me."
Ault also discussed a comic printed in last week's issue of The Amherst Student. "I wonder what his criteria would be to let you into heaven. My guess is that it might be: 'Have you shaken up anybody's world today?'" he pondered. "It is very appropriate that you knew him as 'Gramps' because he really felt that many of you were part of his family."
Director of Dining Services Charlie Thompson, Keyes' supervisor, praised Keyes as a fair man who commanded respect through kindness rather than toughness. "He'd say, 'I'm here because of the students. They keep me young, plus there are 400 new ones each year I can try my one-liners on,'" Thompson said.
Thompson recalled that Keyes called his pay "lunch money" because he used it once a week to treat his wife Jackie to lunch. "He was a great man. He truly loved his job," Thompson said.
He recalled one particular interaction between Keyes and a student at the College. "[One girl] looked down in the dumps and said she'd had a really bad fight with her boyfriend. He looked at her and said, 'I've been married a long time, and my wife and I have only gotten in one fight. It started in 1948 and it's still going on.'"
Dean of Students Ben Lieber noted that Keyes was an extremely integral part of the College community. "Gramps was one of the unsung heroes who helped make Amherst what it is." He noted that in three of the last five years Keyes was named an honorary member of the graduating class, a record unmatched by any other College employee.
"Gramps was a softy on the inside," Lieber said, contrasting Keyes' inner kindness to his tough facade. "He was loved for his rainbow suspenders, his gruff, sarcastic tone, and his fundamental kindness and decency," Lieber said.
Several students recalled fond memories of Keyes. "I can't think about Gramps without it putting a smile on my face," said John Pourciau '05. "Gramps was an institution at Amherst College. He was part of the experience."
Luke Murumba '05 said that Keyes was friendly and made a real effort to get to know him. "I [had always been] referred to as 'Matt's brother,'" he said. "Then I let Gramps in on that secret, and one day Matt told me that Gramps had called him 'Luke's brother.'"
Association of Amherst Students (AAS) President Ryan Park '05 announced at the end of the service that the AAS will fund a permanent memorial plaque for Keyes' honor in Valentine Dining Hall near his old checking station.
Thompson reiterated the importance of the plaque. "[Gramps] was full of one-liners and full of life," Thompson said. "He will be missed but he will not be forgotten."