Keith Colby Mahaney died peacefully after a brief illness on Nov. 1, 2021, in Bangor, Maine at the age of 88.

Keith was born on March 31, 1933, in Easton, Maine to Mona E. (Knight) and Basil V. Mahaney and grew up in Fort Fairfield in "The County" as he called it. He graduated from Fort Fairfield High School in 1951. He graduated from the University of Maine in 1957 with a bachelors of science degree in education, in 1968 with a master's in education, and in 1971 with a certificate of advanced study in education. He served in the U.S. Army from 1953-1955. After his college education he moved to Greenville, Maine to teach and coach at the local high school. It was here that he met the love of his life, Karlene. He married his sweetheart on Nov. 7, 1959, and they had two children, Shawn and Mary Keith. Their lives would take them from Greenville to Boothbay Harbor to teach, and eventually to Bangor, where Keith worked for Husson College as the assistant athletic director. In 1979, he left teaching and coaching to open the Holiday Health and Racquet Club in Bangor. Keith spent his life doing everything he loved, playing sports, coaching athletes, and creating lasting relationships and lifelong memories with friends and family. He leaves behind a storied and enduring coaching legacy that reaches beyond the motivation and resilience he taught his students. He leaves behind a legion of student athletes and peers who credit him for helping them achieve their best in sports and life. Keith exemplified what it is like to live with a purpose. Kindness and generosity were the forefront of his remarkable character.

Basketball was a passion for Keith. He was proud, but quietly humble regarding his accomplishments. He was a starter as a freshman at the University of Maine and was chosen as "the outstanding player on Bob Holloways Hoop Squad." As a sophomore, he was on the starting five all season and established his first University of Maine foul shooting record. Keith placed fifth in the nation with a foul shooting record of 81.4% (83 of 102). He led the Yankee Conference in scoring his junior year (23.8) and was the Maine State Series scoring leader with 23.3 points per game. He also set two more University of Maine records - most free throws made in one season (106) and most points in a game (39) against Bates College. Keith returned to the University of Maine after the Korean War for the 1955-56 and 1956-57 seasons. His scoring average in State Series play was 23.5 points a game. He also rewrote the record book, breaking nine individual records. At the time of his graduation, he held 11 of 14 basketball records. He was the all-time scoring leader and the first player in University of Maine history to score 38 points in a Maine State Series game and 39 points in a Yankee Conference game in the same year. Keith earned the following recognition: All- Maine (two years), All-Yankee Conference (two years), All-New England All-Star (one year), and All-American Honorable Mention (two years).

He was inducted into the University of Maine Sports Hall of Fame in 1993 and the State of Maine Sports Hall of Fame in 1994. On Dec. 21, 1997, Keith received the ultimate honor - his basketball jersey #24 was retired by the University of Maine. In 2004 Keith was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame with the distinction of being the first University of Maine player to receive that honor as a Division I basketball athlete. When Keith was inducted into the Maine Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015, he fondly thanked his first basketball coach, Locky Gardner, for teaching him the fundamentals of the game Keith grew to love and their lifelong friendship.

Keith's sports achievements extend beyond basketball. In 1964 he was the co-founder of the Western Maine Class "D" Football Conference and in 1967 founder and charter member of the Knox-Lincoln Golf League. His awards include Boothbay Harbor Chamber of Commerce Award for Leadership and Sportsmanship in the Community (1967), Students' Outstanding Teacher Award - Husson College (1972), NAIA District #5 New England Golf Coach of the Year (1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978), Outstanding Educator Award - Husson College (1978), Distinguished Service Award NAIA District #5 (1968-1978), and Honorary Alumnus Award - Husson College (1982). Keith was inducted into the Husson College Sports Hall of Fame - Golf Coach (1986), State of Maine Racquetball Hall of Fame (1995) and the Maine Golf Hall of Fame (2009).

Carrying his spirit and continuing his legacy are his beloved wife of sixty-one wonderful years, Karlene (Graham) Mahaney; children, Shawn and wife, Wende Mahaney, and Mary Keith and husband, Karl Gurschick; grandchildren, Basil and wife, Lesley Mahaney, Molleigh Mahaney, Maggie Mahaney, Kalee and husband, Andrew Gwarjanski, Karl Gurschick II, and Keith Gurschick; great-grandchildren, Eleanor, Reid, Penelope, Wenzel Gwarjanski and Hadley, and William and Jack Mahaney. Keith is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, teammates, students and friends. He was preceded in death by his brother, Larry K. Mahaney; and sister, Gayle and her husband, Philip McCrae.

A celebration of life will be scheduled sometime in the spring/summer of 2022. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Fort Fairfield Athletic Hall of Fame, c/o Larry Gardner, 28 High School Drive, Fort Fairfield, ME 04742. Condolences can be sent to 118 Mount Hope Avenue, Bangor, ME 04401.