Dr. Keith M. Wellman, retired organic chemistry professor at the University of Miami, died at age 91, after over a year in home hospice in Taos, New Mexico.

Born to May Oaks and Davis Wellman (an airplane pioneer) in Aberdeen, South Dakota, they moved to Rapid City, SD, when Keith was in high school. He graduated first in his class with a degree in chemistry from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. He then attended Northwestern University where he received his PhD in Organic Chemistry. He did post-doctoral work at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, where he was a very notably prolific author of organic chemistry research articles.

He had faculty positions at San Diego State University and the University of Buffalo, before his almost 40-year position at the University of Miami including a stint as acting department chair. He also completed a summer fellowship at Stanford University in environmental science and spent a year as a visiting professor at the University of Sao Paolo, Brazil. In amphitheater-sized U Miami lecture halls, Keith estimated he taught ten thousand or more organic chemistry students, most of whom realized the necessity of high grades in organic chemistry for admission to medical schools.

Keith is survived by Nancy, his wife of 58 years, his daughter Suzanne, granddaughter Erica, grandson Gabriel (Alexis), and his great-grandchildren Elijah, Penelope, and Clifton; and his son Scott (Marilyn), and their son Steven (Nathan) who takes after his grandfather with degrees and post-docs in neuroscience at Pittsburgh, Columbia and Tufts.

Keith and Nancy lived an active lifestyle, more so after retiring from their busy academic careers. They played tennis, biked, skied, sailed/kayaked, hiked, and traveled the world. They themselves, but especially Keith, built a ski chalet in Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico, to ensure they would continue to ski though living in South Florida. They attended many U Canes football and baseball games with faculty friends in the 1980s when Miami was almost unbeatable.

Upon retirement, Keith became an even more avid Everglades, ocean, and whitewater paddler. He was best known for his blogs (>300,000 viewers) on kayaking the Everglades.

Keith was also recognized for his steadfastness which was attributed by many to his Norwegian roots. His thorough camping/sailing research and other careful preparations including his copious fishing diaries and packing lists from prior trips were critical to Keith being appreciated by so many, especially in South Florida.

A memorial celebration in the future will be held at one of Keith's favorite waterfront sites in South Florida. Please sign the Guestbook to be notified of Keith's memorial.