Patricia J Keely
March 30, 1963 - June 24, 2017
Obituary
MADISON- Dr. Patricia J. “Patti” Keely, PhD, lost her gallant and longstanding fight with cancer at 54. Patricia worked as the Chair and Jan and Kathryn Ver Hagen Professor of Translation Research for UW-Madison Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology in the School of Medicine and Public Health. She founded the Keely Lab in the Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research which explores how cellular interactions with the extracellular matrix result in invasive, metastatic carcinoma. Patricia also authored or co-authored over 80 scientific, peer-reviewed manuscripts and mentored 14 graduate students toward their PhD. Patti is survived by her loving husband, Tom Powell; her son, David Kwong (18); her parents, John and Ruth Keely; her brother, Pete Keely (Laura Carlson); niece, Addison Keely; her extended family; and her many friends and colleagues. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, John and Dorothy Keely, and Fred and Bela Bisenz; and uncle, Tim Keely. She leaves behind a remarkable legacy as an outstanding scientist, dedicated mentor, strong academic leader, and caring and committed person. She will be missed by so many. A Celebration of Patricia’s Life will be held at the Pyle Center at UW Madison, 702 Langdon St., Madison, at 3:30 p.m., on Monday, July 10, 2017. A gathering will be held at the Pyle Center from 3:00 p.m. until the time of the service on Monday. Following the service there will be refreshments and continued time to gather. In lieu of flowers please send memorials to The Patricia Keely Memorial Fund at the UW Carbone Cancer Center, or the International Crane Foundation. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
608-221-5420
Events
Gathering
Mon Jul 10, 2017 @ 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM CDT
Pyle Center • 702 Langdon Street, Madison, WI null
Celebration of Life
Mon Jul 10, 2017 @ 3:30 PM CDT
Pyle Center • 702 Langdon Street, Madison, WI null
Photos
No photos of Patricia have been shared yet.
Memories
SF
Sean B. Fain
Other •
Condolences to all of Patti's loved ones. I was a colleague of hers at the UW-CCC. She was a very special person, a creative thinker and scientist who will be sorely missed by the community here.
CB
christel BOUDIGNON
Other •
From France... I was a colleague and friend of Patti in Parise Lab at UNC when "baby David" was born, a very happy moment in her life... we shared a lot of being-a-new mom emotions as well as science of course. Condolences to her family...special thought to you David, your mom was an amazing strong believer in "life's worth living for"., you were her "little miracle"... Her family was her best support... receive my loving support Ruth, John and Pete... and to the wonderful person who married her.
CE
Corinne Engelman
Other •
Patti was my Women Faculty Mentoring Program mentor while I was a new Assistant Professor at the UW. While she mentored me professionally, she also reminded me to take care of my family and myself, something many others senior to me did not bring up. She knew the importance of this first hand and talked about backpacking trips with Tom and David, among other things. She had found a way to strike a balance between a successful career and being a loving, caring mom. She was an amazing woman and will be deeply missed.