Brian Trussler

My friendship with Keith started many, many years ago when we were in our early teens.  The group of friends would gather at Keith’s home to enjoy a good party.  This started a friendship with Keith’s parents and his sisters.  Not a single time went by that Keith didn’t end up playing the piano for the delight of all, and for the record it did not take much persuading to get Keith to the piano. Keith received his interest in music from his mother and along with his serious side to music there was always the fun side, in fact whether warming up or playing a prank Keith invariably played the Golliwog’s Cakewalk.

Life back then was simple, but yet adventurous.  Life did take a small turn toward maturity for Keith when on a sunny summer afternoon he met Ruth, the best thing to ever happened in Keith’s life.  It was my responsibility on the wedding day to get Keith to the church and as could be expected Keith was running late.  While the best man convinced Ruth that Keith had arrived and all was well I snuck Keith through the back door of the church and the service eventually went on as planned. 

Many of the friends from our teens had moved on and a new set of friends entered Keith’s life.  Many of these friends were young people spending a few years in Canada from their home country of South Africa.  Thus started the adventure that would lead Keith and Ruth to Capetown.  I was to accompany Keith and Ruth to South Africa and we spent a year planning the trip through Scandinavia, Europe, and then to Capetown.  Unfortunately unrest in various countries along the route forced a direct travel plan and of greater disappoint-ment for me, due to a serious illness with my parents, I was not able to make the trip.  When Keith and Ruth left they gave me their Christmas presents to deliver to Ruth’s family and this started a friendship with Ruth’s parents and the family.

There is a photo of Keith and Kevin sailing on the bay off Capetown that has a very prominent position in our house and not a week goes by that Carolyne and I don’t think about Keith and Ruth and the family.

It was always a pleasure to see Keith and Ruth on their visits to family in Canada and they left us feeling happy to know them as friends.  One visit stands out, it was for a special anniversary of Keith’s parents.  Keith arrived a couple of days ahead of the event and stayed at our house so as to surprise his parents.  Keith phoned and spoke to his father the morning of the event and his father could not believe how clear the transmission from South Africa was, in fact it sounded like he was right here.  My job on the day was to fake playing a tape that Keith had supposedly sent while Keith was actually behind a screen playing the piano. As we started I messed up and had to say sorry, I will start the tape again, thankfully Keith was quick enough to catch on and start again.  Needless to say his parents were both surprised and overjoyed to see him. The story does not end there because Kevin pulled a fast one on Keith and as a surprise to both his grandparents and Keith showed up at the event.  With sisters Jean and Ruthie on hand it created a great family reunion.

A special memory is of their last visit to Canada when I had the opportunity to spend a sunny afternoon sitting on the patio of a local pub with Keith recalling the many happy times and adventures we had shared.  Carolyne joined us later and we all spent a fabulous evening together.

My fondest memories come from the friendship of both Keith and Ruth.  My greatest disappoint is not being able, over the years, to visit Capetown and have the experience, no the  adventure, of Keith showing me His South Africa.

Carolyne and I send our love and fondest thoughts to Keith and Ruth and the family and know that we think of you often.