2 April
Jack Keefe: Consiousness-Child, Vastness-Pride; Wanda Keefe: Nana, Mom and God loving Friend Wanda
On March 30, 1987 Sri Chinmoy composed a Song honouring Jack Keefe: Consiousness-Child, Vastness-pride, Oneness-soul, Fulness-ride.
On this occassion Jack Keefe was Presented the 1987 Self-Transcendance Award.
More information at: http://adhiratha.srichinmoycentre.org/1987-self-trancendance-award-jack-keefe
and Photos at : http://gallery.srichinmoycentre.org/members/adhiratha/self/fam/wanda-jack/Self-Trancendance-Award:
Below are links to related information such as an:
- Oral History Project which focused on Jack and Wanda Keefe's Life,
- Sports Illustrated article of 23 Mar 1987 featuring Jack Keefe
- Music Score from the song of March 1987
On this page is also A brief overview of Wanda D. Keefe interests and activities.
Sri Chinmoy met Wanda Keefe on many occasions. On one of the last times she visted Queens from her assisted living facility on Long Island was not long before Sri Chinmoy passed away. On that day he told her that she should come to the Aspiration Ground Meditiation park and garden when ever she wanted. As she was leaving to go to the car Wanda said to son Adhiratha quite proudly: "Did you here what he said. I can come any time I want". She has come many times since then. This overview relies heavily on initial notes provided by G.C. Keefe to family members and added to by other family members. See also end notes.
Body Text (Re
Jack Keefe: Consiousness-Child, Vastness-Pride
Consiousness-child, vastness-pride, oneness-soul, fulness-ride.
Jack Keefe, hero-supreme!
God's fulfillment dream.
Jack,to you, surrenders impossibility-foe.
Greatness-friend, goodness-brother,
All-where you go.
- words and music by Sri Chinmoy, 30 March 1987
Links to related information:
- Oral History Project which focused on Jack and Wanda Keefe's Life. Parallel Lives : Jack and Wanda, Wanda and Jack [Subtitled: A Davis-Keefe, Canadian-American Experience] (http://www.adhiratha.net/www/oral-history/MAThesis/4pub_htm/MAT2_A00.htm)
- SPOTLIGHT 23 March 1987, Sports Illustrated A MASTER OF A SWIMMER : Undeterred by Polio, .Jack Keefe is a top backstroker at 71 By RICHARD DEMAK (http://www.adhiratha.net/www/oral-history/MAThesis/4pub_htm/Transcripts/jk87mr24.htm)
- Music Score (see related items in tif and cwk formatk)
- Audio recording to be added
===============================================================
Wanda D. Keefe:
A brief overview of Wanda D. Keefe interests and activities,[1]
No doubt, she was adventurous, enjoyed travel, meeting, helping people, especially the less fortunate, even the unborn, always having strong moral convictions.[i] Wanda’s children and friends didn't always agree with her stand on things and yet forever admire her spirit and conviction on doing what she thought was right. In short, Wanda wasn't one to sit on the sidelines, she always loved to engage and question. In many ways she led by example.
Some things she likes, if not loved to participate in are:
· nature, plants, gardening, planting,
o She was born in log cabin and raised for the first (11) years on an Alberta, western Canada farm[ii];
o All the Keefe family[iii] residences had shrubs and small gardens with a wild Varity of flowers, fruits and vegetables. Many of which even survived the rambunctious trampling of 9 children in the same yards.
· Cooking and Baking
o Homemade breads and pies and even ice cream
o Big oatmeal-raisin or Peanut butter cookies that she would make by the dozens and put in a big crook in the kitchen. (“I knew you would snitch them between meals so I made with the best ingredients”
o Hearty meals that could somehow stretch for many extra mouths (Leftovers for “Never the same Saturday Soup” was a always a big favorite)
· Design, sewing, dress making, embroidering & sharing her knowledge. Her children especially remember:
o Individual embroidered towels with names and astrological signs;
o A special sewed cloth book that would survive being dragged all over the property while also teaching simple words to read.
o A series of “cow boy” shirts to match her 3 young son’s enthusiasm;
o When one grown son received a spiritual name, he was presented a blue blanket the following Christmas, with the new name embroidered in big letters.
· all kinds of arts and crafts, puzzles, woodwork, picture frames,
-
- Remodeling many residences, Freeport, Seaford and Manorville
- Reupholster or fixing up old furniture. (She was “re-cycling“ and “green” way ahead of her time & didn’t like to see anything wasted. She felt there was nothing wrong with “garbage picking” if something could be fixed – and often then given away.
- She was the original “fixer-upper” Woodwork, tile work, wallpapering, and of course let's not forget painting :-) (Where many including GCK got a good intro to the work world).
· Pets :
o All the farm animals of her Canadian childhood including chickens, pigs, cows and horses;
o Then in NY many dogs and cats, with a special personality, stories and place in the family history – and even the turtles and goldfish…,
o Several of the pets taught many of the family members to care and be responsible for something other than ourselves and that animals can be especially loved but do die...
· Conversation: from the silly to the sublime
o Her appreciation of the variety of human and divine experience is reflected in the love of animated or quiet discussion about all of God’s creatures, their foibles and aspirations.
o Hours flew by at the kitchen table or in the car - chatting after a shared event or confiding dreams.
o She won over a tough NY crowd with a sweet, quiet but self assured manner. The discerning eye cut to the essence, a look said something was just “not right”. Proud Jack, story teller Donald and Professor Uncle Frank who loved the sport and took any side in an argument were supportive fans.
o Laughter had place of honor. (As long as it was not at some other group or persons expense).
o At the foot of her bed, many “big lugs” sprawled - 9 + spouses and friends stopped in late for a quick hello - extended for practical advice and a presence that washed away our concerns with assurance, wit and sayings from the “school of hard knocks”.
o Certainly “disagree but don’t be disagreeable” and most all have an “Attitude of Gratitude” for no matter what happens “God loves you”.
Early Employment:
· Farm Hand and domestic assistance at various locations
· Hospital in Edmonton - worked to pay off Family bill (received $60 a month over the year and a half: $20 went for mother’s hospital bill, $20 for room and board, and $20 for other expenses).
· Banking - Treasury Department bookkeeper. Everything by hand - Ledgers for surrounding towns.
· Trans-Canadian Highway construction: office in Edmonton, then Whitehorse. Company worked under the United States Engineer Department (USED). (In charge of the files for the payroll department including all personnel files and ran the Canadian payroll (500 employees). No adding machine - everything manual.
· USA Look Magazine, in NY; Assistant to Office Manger (who was also Head of payroll department).
Businesses she started and was involved during and after raising 9 children:
· Clothes design, Sewing and Dress making Independent Business (begun with her dear friend Marie S.)
· Bestline, cleaning products;
· Bon Del and other water filters
· Vitamins and Dietary supplements;
· Healthy diet projects : Slender Me
Religious and other Charities, non profits and volunteer activities:
· Catholic Church - All activities and organizations related to the children and adult religious education. When Latin had to be memorized by altar boys or they wanted to go early to serve mass; when a multitude of costumes for plays and pageants were called for or the girls had special dresses for drum and fife parades, she was always supportive, reminding , transporting and picking up all the pieces.
· Sewing (and teaching others to make) dress “habits” for nuns in a neighboring parish
· Neighborhood home prayer rosary sessions
· Worked with and sat on the board of directors of Maryhaven branch (nonprofit on long island) coordinating events for fundraising.
· Organized and hosted neighborhood morning coffee and sewing circles for the women in area.
· Invited single pregnant young women to live in her home.
· Working in a soup kitchen feeding the hungry for thirteen years.
· Other Volunteering of all types:
· Neighborhood fundraising for local charities or activities.
· Independent research, letter writing to civic leaders and elected officials on wide variety of subjects.
· Right to life activities including protesting locally and in DC, getting arrested.
Other interests
- Took classes in calligraphy, financial investing, public speaking, theology.
- Home work sessions recreated her one-room school house. Supported hours of dance classes, recitals, twirling, campfire girls’ cookie sales, boy scouts, paper routes and little league events.
- Encouraged overall the improvement of any situation, tangible or intangible.
part of family for Jack Keefe's 90th Birthday on Long Island N.Y. renacting a 1961s photo
![image018[1].jpg](/files/Members/adhiratha/wanda_keefe/image018%5B1%5D.jpg)
Dec 1961 Wanda, Jack and 9 Children at Alan Drive Seaford NY.
[1] This overview relies heavily on initial notes provided by G.C. Keefe to family members via e-mail on 2008-apr-21 “Mom's likes throughout my time spent with her” and added to by other family members. See also end notes.
[i] [i] For some further Background:
· Link to the letter Wanda sent all 9 children in June of 1977 when she was 55. Now 30 yrs later the children are between 40’s and 60’s and the letter has even more meaning
http://www.adhiratha.net/www/oral-history/MAThesis/4pub_htm/Transcripts/wk77jn24.htm
http://www.adhiratha.net/www/oral-history/MAThesis/4pub_htm/Transcripts/wk77jn24.htm
· WDK note - 1956 drive back home with her 6 children, her sister Gwen and her children all in station wagon.
http://www.adhiratha.net/www/oral-history/MAThesis/4pub_htm/Transcripts/WK00fe14.htm
http://www.adhiratha.net/www/oral-history/MAThesis/4pub_htm/Transcripts/WK00fe14.htm
· For more details on travels and early work life see also excerpts from Oral History:
AAAAA
http://www.adhiratha.net/www/oral-history/MAThesis/4pub_htm/Transcripts/JW00au14.htm
for Jack & Wanda Oral History Interview: Aug. 14th 2000,& begin Sept 04, 2000 including:
Marriage 1944, Not Back To Alaska ; Barracks Life for 3 Years: Trinidad, and British Guyana, Brazil, Yukon ; First Grandchild for Keefes, Neighbors: Commuting – work life; Standard Car Shift and Jacks adjustment for Leg;. Wanda Grandfather Cabinet Maker & Great Aunt Athabaska Trail Driver; first Granddaughter; Wanda's One Room Schoolhouse work: threshing crew, Hospital to Pay Family bill. Trans-Canadian Highway and at Look Magazine
BBBBB
http://www.adhiratha.net/www/oral-history/MAThesis/4pub_htm/Transcripts/JW00se04.htm
Oral History Interview: Continued Sept 04, 2000 Parallel Lives: Jack and Wanda, Wanda and Jack; including:
One room schoolhouse to city /school,. High School & Wanda Basketball, Selling family furniture to survive; People moving around, taking odd jobs, Jack in Whitehorse; Accommodations men & women; Plan children?; Jack's chilly fall;. Soldiers in Yukon: American, Canadian, Russian. Working cold Yukon; foreigners entering USA; 1944 war result not certain; Friends lost in World War 2, Canadian Forces in Battles; Atrocities on both sides; farm tools 2 Centuries
CCCCC
http://www.adhiratha.net/www/oral-history/MAThesis/4pub_htm/Transcripts/JW00se30.htm
Oral History Interview: Sept 30, 2000; Parallel Lives : Jack and Wanda, Wanda and Jack; [Subtitled: A Davis-Keefe, Canadian-American Experience] including:
Wanda Dressmaking & Business ; Sewing Club, Circle; Small Businesses for women & war changed things; GI Bill, Consumer Goods, College and Mortgage Loans; Possible Subjects for future interviews
AAAAA
http://www.adhiratha.net/www/oral-history/MAThesis/4pub_htm/Transcripts/JW00au14.htm
for Jack & Wanda Oral History Interview: Aug. 14th 2000,& begin Sept 04, 2000 including:
Marriage 1944, Not Back To Alaska ; Barracks Life for 3 Years: Trinidad, and British Guyana, Brazil, Yukon ; First Grandchild for Keefes, Neighbors: Commuting – work life; Standard Car Shift and Jacks adjustment for Leg;. Wanda Grandfather Cabinet Maker & Great Aunt Athabaska Trail Driver; first Granddaughter; Wanda's One Room Schoolhouse work: threshing crew, Hospital to Pay Family bill. Trans-Canadian Highway and at Look Magazine
BBBBB
http://www.adhiratha.net/www/oral-history/MAThesis/4pub_htm/Transcripts/JW00se04.htm
Oral History Interview: Continued Sept 04, 2000 Parallel Lives: Jack and Wanda, Wanda and Jack; including:
One room schoolhouse to city /school,. High School & Wanda Basketball, Selling family furniture to survive; People moving around, taking odd jobs, Jack in Whitehorse; Accommodations men & women; Plan children?; Jack's chilly fall;. Soldiers in Yukon: American, Canadian, Russian. Working cold Yukon; foreigners entering USA; 1944 war result not certain; Friends lost in World War 2, Canadian Forces in Battles; Atrocities on both sides; farm tools 2 Centuries
CCCCC
http://www.adhiratha.net/www/oral-history/MAThesis/4pub_htm/Transcripts/JW00se30.htm
Oral History Interview: Sept 30, 2000; Parallel Lives : Jack and Wanda, Wanda and Jack; [Subtitled: A Davis-Keefe, Canadian-American Experience] including:
Wanda Dressmaking & Business ; Sewing Club, Circle; Small Businesses for women & war changed things; GI Bill, Consumer Goods, College and Mortgage Loans; Possible Subjects for future interviews
[ii] Wanda’s parents and siblings: Mother: Wilde (nana), Father: Stanley (papa); Brother: Fred; Sisters: Wilde? (dede), Gwendolyn (gwen)and June (babe june)
[iii] Wanda Married John J. Keefe Jr.(jack) in June of 1944 in Canada intending to only visit NY for a Honeymoon trip. The trip was extended and 9 Children were part of the journey: John Joseph, (jack) - May of 1945, Adhiratha (kevin kenneth) -May 1947, Thomas Stanley (tim, tom) -Mar 1949, Elizabeth Catherine (beth) -Apr 1951, Donna Theresa – Aug? 1952, George Charles Nov (1955), Moira Bernadine (s..) - July 1957, Michael Vincent –Aug 1958, and Mark Steven (Feb 1960?). Grand children / great grand children numbers continue to increase, details on these (and other relatives including spouses etc.) can be filled in by request to parents. J
Wanda’s 60th Party Aug or Sept 1981: 8 Children [missing Donna] with 5 Partners, Uncle Tom and 3 Grand Children
:
From around the world:
Stories
First-hand experiences of meditation and spirituality.
The day when everything began
Bhagavantee Paul Salzburg, Austria
The Ever-Transcending Goal
Preetidutta Thorpe Auckland, New Zealand
Is it unspiritual to care about winning?
Tejvan Pettinger Oxford, United Kingdom
President Gorbachev: a special soul brought down for a special reason
Mridanga Spencer Ipswich, United Kingdom
In the Whirlwind of Life
Pradeep Hoogakker The Hague, Netherlands
Listen to the inner voice
Vidura Groulx Montreal, Canada
The connection between Sri Chinmoy's music and my soul
Kamalakanta Nieves New York, United States
The Peace Run visits Oxford
Tejvan Pettinger Oxford, United Kingdom
A New World
Apaga Renner Graz, Austria
Your life's responsibilities compel you to develop inner strength
Pradhan Balter Chicago, United States
The most beautiful and fulfilling of all possible experiences
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
An early spiritual experience
Ashrita Furman New York, United StatesSuggested videos
interviews with Sri Chinmoy's students
2 things that surprised me about the spiritual life
Jayasalini Abramovskikh Moscow, Russia
Sri Chinmoy's inner guidance
Kailash Beyer Zurich, Switzerland
Sri Chinmoy's vision of the Peace Run
Harita Davies New York, United States
Starting a spiritual café
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New Zealand
My daily spiritual practises
Muslim Badami Auckland, New Zealand
A feeling that something more exists
Florbela Caniceiro Coimbra, Portugal
An airport meditation experience
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
Except where explicitly stated otherwise, the contents of this site are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. read more »
SriChinmoyCentre.org is a Vasudeva Server project.