Penn-Trafford staff, parents create memorial to 2nd-grade teacher Greg Keefer

When second-grade teacher Greg Keefer walked into the cafeteria at Harrison Park Elementary School, fellow educator Beth Miller described the scene as “complete chaos.”

“Kids would be jumping up to high-five him, and he loved every minute of it,” Miller said.

Keefer’s popularity among students made it all the more devastating when he died unexpectedly in late May.

“We were just looking for a way to honor him,” Harrison Park parent Jessica Comer said.

A memorial rock garden had already been established at the school’s entrance but, through donations from second-grade families, Miller, Comer and others installed an additional memorial to Keefer near the school’s playground.

The group planted an oak tree and two dogwoods on Monday afternoon, with plans to install a bench and a plaque engraved with the names of Keefer’s students.

Miller said she couldn’t have asked for a better colleague.

“He did everything to help his students be kind, and he always took great care of me,” she said. “He started ‘Penny Wars’ a few years back, collecting money for active-duty veterans. The kids were so excited about it. He was just bigger than life.”

Keefer was a 1995 Penn-Trafford graduate, and returned to his home school district after earning his degree from Edinboro University.

Comer said the group is hoping to eventually host a lunch for Keefer’s second-grade students from this past school year at the memorial.

“Every kid knew him,” said Harrison Park Principal Jeff Swartz. “He was such a joy to have in the school. And in the classroom, he took his love for the kids and put that into his lessons.”

“We’re going to have some big shoes to fill when we replace that position,” Swartz said.