Editor’s note: There will be a memorial service for Dr. Keevil on May 25 at 2 p.m. in the First Parish Church in Lincoln. You can also read his obituary and a story about a 2013 award he received from Emerson Hospital.
To the editor:
With deep sadness, I read of the passing of Dr. Charles (“Chuck”) Keevil. He was a gem of a human being and part of the essential fabric of our community.
For many decades, he was the primary care physician for many hundreds of Lincoln residents. He cared for me for more than 35 years, until advancing age caused him to begin to downsize his practice and he encouraged me to transition to another physician.
He was not only a good physician but a compassionate person whose kindly smile and calm style provided reassurance along with medical advice, sometimes accompanied by practical tips that hearkened back to his military experience with a twinkle in his eye. He had a gentle way with words that was unique.
His medical career spanned an era of great change in the business of healthcare. He was still making house calls when I began seeing him, and I can still recall the comforting feeling of Chuck examining me in my own bed.
As my legal career specializing in healthcare organizations evolved, we enjoyed discussing the rapidly changing business of healthcare. It was no surprise to me that Chuck was one of the first community-based physicians to become corporately-affiliated with Partners Health Care’s physician organization in the late 1990s.
Chuck was also interested in classical music and took great interest in my wife Diane’s career as a pianist and my son Jacob’s development as a professional cellist. Chuck eagerly attended their Bemis Hall concert about 15 years ago.
His passing leaves a hole in our town’s soul, but the memories of a true gentleman-physician will endure. Thank you, Chuck, and heartfelt condolences to his family.
Sincerely,
Peter Braun
16 Trapelo Road
Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters must be about a Lincoln-specific topic. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published. Letters may be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor.
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