Philip Keene, 104, husband of the late Virginia (Thornton) Keene, consulting geotechnical (civil) engineer and long-time resident of Middletown, died Saturday, October 6th in Natick MA. Born in Newton, MA, he was the son of the late Thomas M. and Edith (Shankland) Keene.
Mr. Keene was known nationally and internationally in geotechnical (soils and foundations) engineering and had practiced his specialty in this country, Canada and abroad since 1940. A graduate of Harvard University with degrees of B.S. and M.S. in civil engineering he worked in New York and Washington, chiefly in subway construction and then went with the Connecticut Highway Dept. (now DOT) in 1940 to organize a geotechnical engineering division. There he pioneered in the adoption of modern bridge foundations and roadway construction, saving the State millions of dollars in this and other ways.
Before and after retirement from State service in 1972, Mr. Keene pursued a consulting practice and lectured at American and Canadian universities, as well as serving as consultant and lecturer for the governments of India, Turkey and Poland.
A member of various national engineering societies, he was especially active in the National Transportation Research Board and the American Society of Civil Engineers, serving as chairman or member of committees. He contributed technical papers in his specialty, including a prize-winning paper for the Connecticut Society of Civil Engineers and a paper selected for publication at the Ninth Pan American Highway Congress, Organizations of American States. He also served as a panelist for the American Arbitration Association. In 1984 he was named Engineer of the Year by the Connecticut Society of Professional Engineers and in 1990 he received the annual Benjamin Wright award from the Connecticut Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers for his outstanding contributions to civil engineering.
During his residency in Middletown for 60 years, Mr. Keene served on local organizations, including trustee of the First United Methodist Church, president of the Middletown University Club, member of the Mayor's committee to build the parking garage in 1965, and member of the Committee to Save the South Green. He was a member of the Middlesex County Historical Society and the Middletown Preservation Trust.
He is survived by three sons, Thomas Keene of Tucson, AZ, Charles Keene of Heidelberg, Germany, and David Keene of Wellesley, MA as well as five grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held in the Chapel of the First United Methodist Church, 24 Old Church St., Middletown on Tuesday, October 9th at 12:00 pm with the Rev. Dr. Mark Chatterton officiating and interment will be in Indian Hill Cemetery, Middletown.
Friends may meet with the family one hour prior to the service in the church parlor form 11:00 to 12:00 pm. and messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.doolittlefuneralservice.com.
The Doolittle Funeral Home, 14 Old Church St., Middletown is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Keene was known nationally and internationally in geotechnical (soils and foundations) engineering and had practiced his specialty in this country, Canada and abroad since 1940. A graduate of Harvard University with degrees of B.S. and M.S. in civil engineering he worked in New York and Washington, chiefly in subway construction and then went with the Connecticut Highway Dept. (now DOT) in 1940 to organize a geotechnical engineering division. There he pioneered in the adoption of modern bridge foundations and roadway construction, saving the State millions of dollars in this and other ways.
Before and after retirement from State service in 1972, Mr. Keene pursued a consulting practice and lectured at American and Canadian universities, as well as serving as consultant and lecturer for the governments of India, Turkey and Poland.
A member of various national engineering societies, he was especially active in the National Transportation Research Board and the American Society of Civil Engineers, serving as chairman or member of committees. He contributed technical papers in his specialty, including a prize-winning paper for the Connecticut Society of Civil Engineers and a paper selected for publication at the Ninth Pan American Highway Congress, Organizations of American States. He also served as a panelist for the American Arbitration Association. In 1984 he was named Engineer of the Year by the Connecticut Society of Professional Engineers and in 1990 he received the annual Benjamin Wright award from the Connecticut Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers for his outstanding contributions to civil engineering.
During his residency in Middletown for 60 years, Mr. Keene served on local organizations, including trustee of the First United Methodist Church, president of the Middletown University Club, member of the Mayor's committee to build the parking garage in 1965, and member of the Committee to Save the South Green. He was a member of the Middlesex County Historical Society and the Middletown Preservation Trust.
He is survived by three sons, Thomas Keene of Tucson, AZ, Charles Keene of Heidelberg, Germany, and David Keene of Wellesley, MA as well as five grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held in the Chapel of the First United Methodist Church, 24 Old Church St., Middletown on Tuesday, October 9th at 12:00 pm with the Rev. Dr. Mark Chatterton officiating and interment will be in Indian Hill Cemetery, Middletown.
Friends may meet with the family one hour prior to the service in the church parlor form 11:00 to 12:00 pm. and messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.doolittlefuneralservice.com.
The Doolittle Funeral Home, 14 Old Church St., Middletown is in charge of arrangements.
Philip Keene, 104, husband of the late Virginia (Thornton) Keene, consulting geotechnical (civil) engineer and long-time resident of Middletown, died Saturday, October 6th in Natick MA. Born in Newton, MA, he was the son of the late Thomas M. and Edith (Shankland) Keene.
Mr. Keene was known nationally and internationally in geotechnical (soils and foundations) engineering and had practiced his specialty in this country, Canada and abroad since 1940. A graduate of Harvard University with degrees of B.S. and M.S. in civil engineering he worked in New York and Washington, chiefly in subway construction and then went with the Connecticut Highway Dept. (now DOT) in 1940 to organize a geotechnical engineering division. There he pioneered in the adoption of modern bridge foundations and roadway construction, saving the State millions of dollars in this and other ways.
Before and after retirement from State service in 1972, Mr. Keene pursued a consulting practice and lectured at American and Canadian universities, as well as serving as consultant and lecturer for the governments of India, Turkey and Poland.
A member of various national engineering societies, he was especially active in the National Transportation Research Board and the American Society of Civil Engineers, serving as chairman or member of committees. He contributed technical papers in his specialty, including a prize-winning paper for the Connecticut Society of Civil Engineers and a paper selected for publication at the Ninth Pan American Highway Congress, Organizations of American States. He also served as a panelist for the American Arbitration Association. In 1984 he was named Engineer of the Year by the Connecticut Society of Professional Engineers and in 1990 he received the annual Benjamin Wright award from the Connecticut Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers for his outstanding contributions to civil engineering.
During his residency in Middletown for 60 years, Mr. Keene served on local organizations, including trustee of the First United Methodist Church, president of the Middletown University Club, member of the Mayor's committee to build the parking garage in 1965, and member of the Committee to Save the South Green. He was a member of the Middlesex County Historical Society and the Middletown Preservation Trust.
He is survived by three sons, Thomas Keene of Tucson, AZ, Charles Keene of Heidelberg, Germany, and David Keene of Wellesley, MA as well as five grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held in the Chapel of the First United Methodist Church, 24 Old Church St., Middletown on Tuesday, October 9th at 12:00 pm with the Rev. Dr. Mark Chatterton officiating and interment will be in Indian Hill Cemetery, Middletown.
Friends may meet with the family one hour prior to the service in the church parlor form 11:00 to 12:00 pm. and messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.doolittlefuneralservice.com.
The Doolittle Funeral Home, 14 Old Church St., Middletown is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Keene was known nationally and internationally in geotechnical (soils and foundations) engineering and had practiced his specialty in this country, Canada and abroad since 1940. A graduate of Harvard University with degrees of B.S. and M.S. in civil engineering he worked in New York and Washington, chiefly in subway construction and then went with the Connecticut Highway Dept. (now DOT) in 1940 to organize a geotechnical engineering division. There he pioneered in the adoption of modern bridge foundations and roadway construction, saving the State millions of dollars in this and other ways.
Before and after retirement from State service in 1972, Mr. Keene pursued a consulting practice and lectured at American and Canadian universities, as well as serving as consultant and lecturer for the governments of India, Turkey and Poland.
A member of various national engineering societies, he was especially active in the National Transportation Research Board and the American Society of Civil Engineers, serving as chairman or member of committees. He contributed technical papers in his specialty, including a prize-winning paper for the Connecticut Society of Civil Engineers and a paper selected for publication at the Ninth Pan American Highway Congress, Organizations of American States. He also served as a panelist for the American Arbitration Association. In 1984 he was named Engineer of the Year by the Connecticut Society of Professional Engineers and in 1990 he received the annual Benjamin Wright award from the Connecticut Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers for his outstanding contributions to civil engineering.
During his residency in Middletown for 60 years, Mr. Keene served on local organizations, including trustee of the First United Methodist Church, president of the Middletown University Club, member of the Mayor's committee to build the parking garage in 1965, and member of the Committee to Save the South Green. He was a member of the Middlesex County Historical Society and the Middletown Preservation Trust.
He is survived by three sons, Thomas Keene of Tucson, AZ, Charles Keene of Heidelberg, Germany, and David Keene of Wellesley, MA as well as five grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held in the Chapel of the First United Methodist Church, 24 Old Church St., Middletown on Tuesday, October 9th at 12:00 pm with the Rev. Dr. Mark Chatterton officiating and interment will be in Indian Hill Cemetery, Middletown.
Friends may meet with the family one hour prior to the service in the church parlor form 11:00 to 12:00 pm. and messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.doolittlefuneralservice.com.
The Doolittle Funeral Home, 14 Old Church St., Middletown is in charge of arrangements.
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