Ron Keller, who helped oversee the sweeping $121 million renovation of the Ohio Statehouse in the early 1990s, died on Monday after a three-year illness.
Keller, 66, was the first executive director of the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board. From 1993 to 2005, he was in charge of maintaining the integrity of the building after its restoration to its Civil War-era grandeur.
In a 1996 Dispatch story about the renovation, Keller explained his motivation.
“We didn’t do this for the legislators,” he said. “We did this for future generations.”
Keller was an aide to then-Gov. Richard F. Celeste and was chief of protocol in the International Trade Division of the Ohio Department of Development before being hired in February 1990 by Schooley Caldwell Associates, the Columbus architectural firm that handled the Statehouse renovation. He subsequently worked for Franklin County as public-facilities manager and for Franklin County Veterans Memorial.
Keller was operations director for the 1989 “Son of Heaven” Chinese-art exhibition at what is now COSI.
He served in the Army from 1969 to 1971 and attended Phillips University in Enid, Okla.
Keller is survived by his wife, Kathy Tefft-Keller, and their children, Emily and Joe.
Calling hours will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at Tidd Funeral Home, 5265 Norwich St. in Hilliard. The funeral service will be 10 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Interment will be in Wesley Chapel Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in Keller’s name to the Capitol Square Foundation at the Statehouse.
ajohnson@dispatch.com
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Keller Ronald T. Keller, age 66, of Hilliard, passed away February 2, 2015. Began working at age 10 at his parents Stewarts Rootbeer Drive In on Yearling Rd. in Whitehall. Whitehall Yearling High School graduate Class of 1966, attended Phillips University (Enid, OK) and a US Army Veteran of Vietnam. Long history of Public service including Director of Communications, Research and Protocol, International Trade Division, Ohio Department of Development 1987-1990, Operations Director, Son of Heaven Exhibition Ohio Department of Development 1989-1990, Project Coordinator, Ohio State House Restoration Project, Schooley Caldwell Architects and Engineers 1990-1993, Executive Director, Capital Square Review and Advisory Board, Ohio State House 1993-2005, Director, Public Facilities Management, Franklin County Ohio 2005-2008, James B. Recchie Design Award for Ohio Statehouse, James B. Recchie Design Award for Son of Heaven, Columbus chapter, American Institute of Architects Award, Building Owners and Managers Association Award and American Association of Landscape Architects Design Award. Community Associations include Columbus Landmarks Foundation Board of Trustees, Capital Crossroads Downtown Holiday Committee, Joint committee for Capitol Square Security, appointed by Governors Voinovich and Taft to serve on three State Building Security Review Committees commissioned following national security events and Hilliard Music Boosters. Preceded in death by parents Paul D. and Idola (Ansley) Keller. Survived by loving wife, Kathryn Tefft-Keller; children, Joseph Paul Keller and Emily Grace Keller; brother, Robert S. Keller; sister, Nancy (Larry) Keller Fitton; brother-in-law, Scott (Rita) Tefft; sister -in-law, Terri (Tim) Rea; nieces and nephews, Sherry (Herman) Jones, Jayme Hardig, Keith Hardig, Lauren Blair, Ali Shinnick, and Gabe Fitton. Family will receive friends 6-9 p.m. Wednesday at the TIDD FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 5265 Norwich St., Hilliard, OH 43026, where funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Thursday. Interment Wesley Chapel Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Capital Square Foundation, Ohio Statehouse Room 16, Columbus, OH 43215.