After Nearly 40 years, Medical Campus Photographer David Keough Retires
For nearly 40 years, biomedical photographer David Keough has documented life on the Medical Campus, from a first snowfall or spring blossoms to the milestone events and myriad achievements and happenings that make up life and work at a dynamic educational and research institution. Faculty, staff, students, colleagues, friends and family gathered January 8 to celebrate his decades of work for Boston University; Keough retires on January 19.
“In that timeframe there have been so many changes with photography and the campus, and you’ve navigated and embraced all those changes with skill and care,” said BUMC-IT Educational Media Director Lucy Milne, who started at the same time as Keough, working alongside him as a photography lab technician.
“All through the wonderful improvements that have happened on the campus, you’ve graced the community with images that capture the energy, diversity and beauty of the campus and we’re forever grateful for you and your dedication,” said Milne.
Keough started at BU as a summer intern in 1983, working at the medical school while in the biomedical photography program at Rochester Institute of Technology. He came to the University full time in November1984 as a photography lab technician in the medical campus’ educational media department.
As a new hire, Keough had other challenges to overcome than being the new guy. He lost his hearing at the age of 4 after meningitis put him into a coma for five days.
“Deafness didn’t stop me from living the life of a normal child,” he said. He played baseball, basketball and tennis at school, and learned to read lips.
Still, being deaf in a new job in a new city was potentially problematic.
“Fortunately, my coworkers and colleagues were open and willing to work with me,” said Keough. “I’ve gotten acquainted with many staff, professors and physicians over the years, and we converse well.”
David McAneny, MD, FACS, also has been at BU for nearly four decades. A professor of surgery, he’s associate dean for clinical affairs at the school and chief medical officer at Boston Medical Center. He said Keough was not only a perfectionist, but also a “darn nice guy and a good man.”
“When you think of all the groups that he shoots – every club, every residency, and every society, class and organization within the medical school and the hospital …” said McAneny. “We will miss him a lot.”
“I have known and appreciated David Keough’s excellent work since I became dean,” said Karen Antman, MD, BUMC Provost and dean of the Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. “But even the little things, like taking visa and passport pictures for students, staff and faculty, were greatly appreciated.”
“I’m really grateful to have worked here for the past 40 years. And I’m incredibly grateful for the people. They’ve been so wonderful, so helpful and the teamwork here has been unbelievable. I’ve met so many different people, so many different departments, and I’ve cultivated so many different relationships; but I’m looking forward to enjoying my retirement as well,” Keough told those at the reception, speaking through a sign language interpreter.
A lover of the outdoors, he has an especially long bucket list.
“Lots of hiking, gardening and volunteer work for the Sudbury Conservation Commission,” said Keough. And, of course, continuing to be active in sports like pickleball, volleyball and fishing.
“Along with my wife Lori, it’s been a dream of ours to take a cross-country trip in an RV, visiting family and friends,” he said.