Steve Keeler spent more than three decades helping build a pipeline of journalists, broadcasters and communications professionals across Central New York and the Finger Lakes, leaving a mark on local media that stretched far beyond Cayuga Community College.
Keeler, a longtime professor, telecommunications department leader and media professional, died Thursday at his home surrounded by family. He was 72.
His career connected education, local television, newspapers and community affairs at a time when the media industry was undergoing enormous technological change. Through 36 years at Cayuga, Keeler gave students hands-on experience covering elections, producing television programs, working with professional equipment and creating content for audiences outside the classroom.
He also helped forge media partnerships that brought student work into the Auburn community and oversaw long-running local programs including “Inside City Hall” and “Conversations,” shows that continued for decades in different forms.
Keeler’s connection to journalism began well before his years at Cayuga. Born and raised in New Jersey, he moved with his family to Camillus in 1965 and graduated from West Genesee High School in 1972. He later attended Syracuse University, earning a master’s degree from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.
He spent years working at Syracuse New Channels and also worked in newspapers earlier in his career. Terry Wynne, who remembered Keeler as his first editor at The Camillus Advocate and The Eastwood Recorder, described him as “smart, savvy, funny, and kind.”
At Cayuga, Keeler became closely associated with the college’s telecommunications program and eventually served as a division chair. After departments were combined, he also served as humanities and communications chair.
The work was consistently practical. Students weren’t just learning broadcasting theory; they were producing coverage, operating equipment and learning how to work under real deadlines for actual audiences.
Even near the end of his career, Keeler continued working alongside students to produce and livestream Cayuga Community College’s commencement ceremony at Falcon Park.
In 2012, the SUNY Board of Trustees recognized Keeler with a distinguished service professorship. He retired from the college in 2023 but continued teaching classes on emerging technologies during retirement.
His impact was especially visible in the number of students who moved from Cayuga into careers in journalism, television, video production, communications and other media fields throughout the region.
FingerLakes1.com Vice President Josh Durso called Keeler’s contribution to the community “immeasurable.”
“Steve was one of a kind,” Durso said. “He supported people — especially those working in the media business — but his generosity extended far beyond our profession. He lived a life in service to the community around him, always willing to help wherever he could.”
That generosity, combined with Keeler’s willingness to embrace new technology, became part of his professional identity. His career spanned an era that moved from traditional newspapers and television production to digital publishing, livestreaming, mobile reporting and emerging technologies.
Through those changes, he remained focused on preparing students to work in the industry as it existed, not simply as it had existed when he entered it.
Keeler’s obituary also reflected interests well beyond media. He enjoyed photography and birdwatching, was a licensed drone pilot and had a strong interest in technology, nature and cooking.
He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Carole; son, Benjamin; daughter, Rebecca Keeler; sister, Kathy Keeler; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his parents, Robert and Lillian Keeler.
Family and friends are invited to calling hours from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 12, at Buranich Funeral Home, 5431 W. Genesee St. in Camillus. A memorial service will follow.
The family said memorial contributions may be made to the Upstate Foundation or Hospice of CNY & of the Fingerlakes.
For Central New York and the Finger Lakes, Keeler’s legacy is visible not only in the programs he helped build, but in the people who passed through them and went on to tell the region’s stories themselves.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.