Bil Keane: Not Just a Cartoonist but a Friend

Bil Keane, creator of The Family Circus cartoon, died at age 89 of heart failure yesterday. His wife Thel died in May of 2008, after celebrating 60 years of marriage. Today they are once again reunited, but leaving behind their five children, who were the inspiration behind the characters Billy, Dolly, Jeffy and PJ.

It is today that I mourn the loss of not only an inspirational cartoonist, who lived out his life as ethically as he drew it, but I mourn the loss of a friend. My relationship with Mr. Keane began in 1979, writing a fan letter to him at the tender age of 12. He wrote me back, to which I sent another letter.

After that second letter, his wife wrote me a personal note and enclosed with it two personal limited edition copies of books that were out of print. He personalized the inside of each book to me. As a young girl, this was beyond my wildest dreams that a man I admired so greatly would take the time to acknowledge his biggest fan.

The relationship did not stop there. We stayed in yearly contact. At Christmas, instead of a traditional Christmas letter, he would send out a Christmas calendar, personally penned to me. His only daughter Gayle, the inspiration of "Dolly", also personally contacted me about the various memorabilia that was available for sale.

Over several years I collected mugs, figurines, ornaments, posters, plaques, plates. And, of course, every book. She personally held a stock of whatever had been created in storage for me to make sure it was available to me as I could afford to buy them.

In 1987, over Spring Break, my mom and I flew out to Arizona to meet the Keanes to celebrate an early 21st birthday. Gayle and my mom had conspired with Mr. Keane to arrange it.  He picked us up at our hotel and drove us back to his home and his studio in Paradise Valley, Arizona. He pointed out that Erma Bombeck lived just down the street but was not in town at the time. Otherwise, he would have introduced us.

After spending the day with me he wondered who actually had more knowledge of the strip--me or his son Jeff, who would later become his partner. He did not want a 'fan club' but said that if he ever changed his mind, I would be the President. He considered me his #1 fan.

After treating us to lunch at his favorite cafe, we parted for a few hours before inviting us to come to the Ice Capades with him that evening, where he was receiving a "Good Skate Award" by Olympic athletes Kitty and Peter Carruthers. My favorite part of that evening was that he asked me to hold his award while he signed autographs.

Thel snapped many pictures of me and Bil during his autograph signing. We snuck out shortly after the awards ceremony as not to be mobbed at the end of the show. I felt a little like a celebrity myself. As a final birthday present, he told me to pick out my favorite cartoon and he would send me the hand-drawn original. To this day, it is proudly framed in my family room.

As a wedding present, he sent us a personalized cartoon congratulating us as a married couple, and welcomed the birth of our son Adam with another personalized cartoon.  In 2001, I arranged to come out to Arizona again, but this time with my husband and son. Thel delighted in Adam. I delighted in the joy of being in the Keane's presence again. It was a 'once in a lifetime' experience that I enjoyed twice.

His generosity was endless. He was a Godly man, who lived out what he drew. And his wife Thel was as delightful as the man himself. She was witty and intelligent. The quiet strength behind his success, I like to think. My favorite moment of that trip was following Mrs. Keane into the kitchen to serve dishes of Breyer's Butter Pecan ice cream for the 5 of us. She asked me to get the bowls and napkins, while she served us. An ordinary moment made extraordinary. They were like family.

My husband and I had hoped to make one more trip out to see him after the birth of our daughter in 2004. But I knew he was in his 80s and I was not sure that it would be appropriate to invite ourselves over again. Communication waned a bit over the last decade. I spoke to both Gayle and Jeff on the phone after learning that their mom had passed away. Gayle shared with me then that their dad's health was declining as well.

Bil Keane lived a rich and wonderful life. He had all the same joys and sorrows, love and heartache as the rest of the world. But despite his 'celebrity' status, he was not one to seek out publicity. He was just a "Daddy', who loved "Mommy", "Billy", "Dolly", "Jeffy" and "PJ". And we loved him.

I have memories that would fill a book but instead it fills my heart. Remembering a great man, who raised a wonderful family. Thank you, Bil Keane, for enriching my life and leaving behind such a great family legacy. I will miss you more than I can put in words. Bless you, Bil Keane. Bless you.