Bernard T. Keefe; Retired Santa Paula Teacher

Santa Paula resident Bernard T. Keefe died Sunday at a nursing home after a lengthy illness. He was 88.

Keefe was born in Clyde, Mo., and grew up in a home on the prairies of North Dakota.

He was a graduate of Missouri Western State College and received a master’s degree in physics from the University of North Dakota in 1933.

At 23, Keefe was the principal of Crary High School in North Dakota, his family said.

In 1938, Keefe came to Santa Paula High School to teach math and science and coach basketball. A year later, he married Helena R. Geier, a Santa Paula elementary school teacher.

With the exception of a brief stint as a farmer, Keefe continued teaching at Santa Paula High School until his retirement in 1971.

Keefe used his own experiments and inventions to teach his students. One invention, called the monkey gun, illustrated the principle of trajectory and was patented, his family said.

After retirement, Keefe enjoyed going to garage sales and tinkering on various physics experiments in his workshop. He continued these hobbies even after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

Keefe and his wife visited many Ventura County classrooms. He would demonstrate principles of color and flight, and she would discuss quilting and help students understand people with special needs.

Keefe was a longtime member of St. Sebastian’s Catholic Church in Santa Paula and active in AIDS Ministry Outreach. He enjoyed camping with his family and traveling to Las Vegas with his wife in their van.

He was described by his family as loving and fair and an outstanding teacher.

Keefe is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Helena Keefe of Santa Paula; five sons, John Keefe of Saticoy, Joe Keefe of Eagle Rock, Michael Keefe of Oakdale, George Keefe of Dove Canyon and Robert Keefe of Santa Paula; two daughters, Margaret Doke of Rancho Murieta and Helen Keefe of Coralville, Iowa; and nine grandchildren.

A memorial mass is planned for 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Sebastian’s Catholic Church in Santa Paula.

Donations can be made to the Santa Clara Valley Hospice in Santa Paula, the American Parkinson’s Disease Assn. in Los Angeles or AIDS Care in Ventura.

The Neptune Society in Santa Barbara is handling the arrangements.