May ’24 Elevator Constructor

Brothers and Sisters:

On November 3, 2023 Schindler-Cleveland Superintendent Kodi Goins sent a text message to the downtown Cleveland mechanics saying, in part, that recent retiree Todd Keating had a heart attack earlier in the week and that the update on his condition was not promising. He asked to keep Todd’s family in our thoughts.

Shortly thereafter, a series of support texts from the field followed.

When meeting Todd for the first time you noticed three things: his inviting manner, large smile and piercing blue eyes. It was after getting to know Todd you could see inside his genuine love for what meant the most to him, his family and those he chose to keep close. It didn’t take much to feel you were part of his world and when he spoke to you it was as though you were the only person in the room.

Only two years prior, Todd retired from Schindler as the resident mechanic at the Cuyahoga County Justice Center.

At 2:07 pm, November 7, Goins sent a follow up text saying that the end was near and Todd’s family was saying their goodbyes. Todd chose to be an organ donor and the family acted on his wishes. A series of condolence texts followed and on November 11 the arrangements for his memorial the following Saturday, November 18.

The week of November 13th through the 17th, I was in Warwick assisting with a part of the RC600 rewrite. On my previous returns from NEIEP, I’ve usually been routed through DC Reagan Airport but, this time I was sent through Atlanta. Consequently I didn’t get home and to bed until 2 am Saturday morning and with a 10 am memorial service I felt fatigued at best.

The morning of the service was a crisp, beautiful northern Ohio fall day. When I pulled into the parking lot, I stopped to talk with several members and retirees who came to lend their support to Todd’s family.

This would be the first time I would be inside St. Clarence Catholic Church and it reminded me of the church in Strongsville, St. John Neumann, my family was part of building in the early 1980’s. A raised altar with resurrected Christ hanging from huge beams supporting a three-quarter round nave.

The service was standing room only.

The priest who lead the service, Fr. Neil Walters, was a friend of Todd’s through the Justice Center and spoke of him on a personal level that conveyed the special nature of the man that filled the church in his memory. The gathering in the pavilion afterwards was the ideal way to remember a man who loved every aspect of life, filled with good food, cold beer and great friends.

But, this is not the end of the story…

On February 22, the Team USA Transplant Curling team based in Columbus, Ohio posted on Facebook “a friend of Team USA Transplant Team lost a loved one this year and chose to honor him by sponsoring Team USA.” The Team had Todd’s name and dates embroidered on the shoulder of their competition uniforms. Todd would be their mascot as they competed in the 2024 World Transplant Winter Games in Bormio, Italy. Among other photos, the Team posted one of the uniform sleeve and a smiling, blue-eyed Todd. To say the least, the family was shocked and amazed by the generous gesture of the Olympians as messages of gratitude flowed all around.

Shortly after the post, the team left for Europe. On March 4th, they took the bronze medal.

During his life, Todd spread happiness and laughter. With his passing, he gave a new lease on life to others, including the gift of sight with his donated blue eyes.

Until next month…

Work smart, work safe and slow down for safety.

Don

DKnapik@windstream.net

Team USA Transplant Curling Team honors IUEC Local 17 Brother Todd Keating on their World Transplant Winter Games 2024 uniform.

Marshall Peterson (Left) and Stephanie West (Right) show off their bronze medals for curling from the 2024 World Transplant Winter Games in Bormio, Italy.