Windsurfing Magazine

Windsurfing community mourns Ned Keys
"Go big or go home". Anyone who knew northern Michigan sailor Ned Keys had heard the gutsy sailor's life-long mantra. As of September 26th, 2006, it will be heard no more, as the Keys family and windsurfers across the nation mourn the unfortunate passing of a dear friend and a perpetually stoked sailor.

Born in Sandusky, Michigan, in 1941, Ned Keys was a life-long adventure seeker whose many hobbies included sailing, waterskiing, snowboarding, kayaking, riding motorcycles, and of course, windsurfing. The 30-year veteran of the windsurf industry also had a penchant for exploration – after sailing his 33-foot sailboat, the Ishtar, through the Inland Waterway all the way to the Bahamas and back, Ned's adventurous spirit led him to organize numerous trips to windsurfing destinations. Ezzy's Tim Ortlieb, who Keys introduced into the windsurfing industry, remembers being among the first Americans to visit the island of Margarita.

Of course, Ned was as eager to sail the Great Lakes' chilly waters as he was to sail the warm waters of theCaribbean. Former pro sailor Maui Meyer recalls visiting Ned while doing traveling windsurfing clinics during his college years. "You can't honestly call yourself a well traveled windsurfer until you've sailed the Great Lakes in the Summertime," says Meyer. "White sand dunes, blue water, and a surprising amount of exploration to be had up there. I remember Ned taking us around to all the local spots, and being a perfect example of someone in the windsurfing family that I could always return to and be welcome." But surely Ned's favorite sailing was in the fall, when blustery storms whipped Lake Michigan into a frothing sea of foam and water. "The Northwest Gales that took down the Edmund Fitzgerald are the same ones that make for a pretty good 3.2 day with mast-high swell on Lake Michigan," says native Michigander and long-time friend Rob McCready, "and Ned was always the first one rigging up."

In addition to catching every storm sesh Lake Michigan had to offer, Ned was incredibly active in his community teaching windsurfing, snowboarding, and kayaking, right up until he was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in July. Once the tumor was removed, Ned battled strongly, fighting with swelling in the right side of his brain which limited his speech and impeded movement of his limbs. When the occupational therapist who was helping Ned regain movement of his limbs asked him what he wanted to be able to do, the first word out of Ned's mouth was "Windsurf". Unfortunately, three months after the initial surgery, Ned Keys passed away when his brain tumor re-grew. Ned is survived by his mother, Dorothy Miller; his children, Aaron and Hilary; his stepson, Jamie Walker, and their mother, Debbie Keys; stepsisters Claudia Federer and Linda Miller of Cleveland, Ohio, and Rosemary Gordon of Tucson. Arizona.

A memorial service in celebration of Ned's life was held on Thursday, October 5th. In lieu of flowers, gifts were made in Ned's name to some of the organizations he supported during his life. If you would like to make a gift in Ned's name, contact Tim Ortlieb at ezzy@gorge.net.



© World Publications, LLC

Edward Donald Keys III

Edward Donald Keys III (Ned Keys), age 65, passed away at his home Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - three months after being diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor.



Ned, son of Dorothy Aiken Miller and Edward Donald Keys Jr., was born July 29, 1941 in Sandusky Michigan. He graduated from Michigan State University in 1965 with a BA in business and a teaching certificate in marketing. After graduation, Ned taught a marketing high school course in Madison Heights until 1968. His love for sailing and skiing brought him to Harbor Springs. Ned spent his summers working at Irish Boat Shop and his winter weekends at Nubs Nob working first as a member of the National Ski Patrol from 1961-1972 and then as a ski instructor (Professional Ski Instructors of America - Level III).

Characteristic of Ned’s life philosophy, he took a year off to fulfill one of his goals when he sailed his 33’ boat, Ishtar, through the inland waterway, to the Bahamas, and back. Returning in 1976, Ned decided to make Harbor Springs his home: he married in 1980, had two children, worked at Bahnhof Sports until 1985, and then at the Outfitter until 2005. Ned contributed to the community with many endeavors: he organized the annual Moose jaw cross-country Loppett and the Surfin Safari, helped plan the Zoll Street Beach and SK8 Skate Park, and helped introduce kayaking to the area. Ned began and coordinated the Harbor Springs Snowboard Team from 2001 to 2006, he also taught snowboarding at Boyne Highlands in 2005.

Filled with the entrepreneurial spirit, Ned started and ran a number of venture business projects: Chandelle of Harbor Springs, Bay Computers, Sunsational Tanning, and Windsurf Harbor Springs. The last, established in 2001, was the manifestation of Ned’s desire to support and promote his favorite sport through sales, lessons, and rentals. A veritable pied piper, Ned also planned and led friends to numerous windsurfing hot spots; destinations such as Aruba, Bonaire, Cape Hatteras, the Gorge, Margarita, Maui, and South Padre. His was never an attitude of show; rather, Ned wished to share his enjoyment of the sport and demonstrate where the next challenge lay.

Ned was actively teaching windsurfing and kayaking with his son until late in June 2006, when he became ill. Ned’s passion for adventure was contagious, he lived every minute of his life to the fullest; he will be missed by everyone who knew him.

Ned is survived by his mother, Dorothy Miller; his children, Aaron and Hilary; his stepson, Jamie Walker; and their mother, Debbie Keys; stepsisters, Claudia Federer and Linda Miller of Cleveland Ohio, and Rosemary Gordon of Tucson, Arizona.

He was preceded in death by his father, E. Donald Keys Jr.; stepmother, Marion Hrebek Keys; and stepfather, Cliff Miller.

A Memorial Service will be held at Nub’s Nob this Thursday, Oct. 5, 2006, at 4pm. Reverend Charles Stuart will conduct the service. Immediately following the Memorial Service, a celebration of Ned’s life will be held. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to “The Edward Donald Keys III LIV TR CO Aaron Keys TTEE.” Alternatively, contributions may be made directly to the following organizations on behalf of Ned Keys: Hospice of Little Traverse Bay, H.S. Snowboard Team and H.S. Sk8 Park.