Patrick Keast

Pat was born in Broxburn, Scotland to parents John and Rose (Gorman) Keast on August 2nd, 1942. Pat attended Edinburgh University and then went on to complete a PhD in Mathematics at St Andrew's University. In 1967 Pat married Kathleen Duffin whom he met in high school.

In 1970 Pat and Kathleen immigrated to Canada where Pat was a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Toronto and taught at Scarborough College. During this time Pat was an active member of the Scarborough Cycling club - a passion he enjoyed all his life.

In 1983, Pat moved with his family to Halifax where he joined the newly developing division of Computing Science in the Mathematics Department of Dalhousie University. Pat completed his career in the Department of Mathematics at Dalhousie and retired in 2009. During his long career Pat taught many undergraduate students, supervised numerous graduate students in both mathematics and computing, maintained an active research program and held several administrative positions.

Pat was very active in the church communities of St. Pius X and St. Benedict especially through his work with the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

He will be sadly missed by family, friends and the communities he was part of.

Pat is survived by his wife Kathleen and sons Liam (Brenda) and James (Stephanie) and his grandchildren Isaac, Kate and Ella. He is also survived by his brothers John (Kathy) and Ronnie (Margaret) and many nieces and nephews in Scotland.

As per Pat’s wishes there will be no public visitation and the family has chosen cremation. A funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Benedict Parish in Halifax on Tuesday August 2nd at 10:30 am with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Heart and Stroke Foundation or a charity of one’s choice.