White Plains CitizeNetReporter

WPCNR MILESTONES. By John F. Bailey. July 3, 2012: The City of White Plains and scores of city firefighters and police officers said a last farewell this morning to Donald Keinz. Mr. Keinz was a Deputy Fire Chief, born and raised in the city, who died suddenly last week at age 60 of cancer after a 34 year career with the fire department. Our Lady of Sorrows Church was overflowing with friends, family, and citizens in addition to Mr. Keinz’s comrades many of whom he helped to train. An honor guard of firefighters was somber awaiting the arrival of the cortege. So deep was the sense of sorrow at his passing mostly only cordial greetings were exchanged with little of the socializing that sometimes characterizes the time before a funeral begins. Sorrow, respect, admiration glowed with great dignity about the scene.It was very quiet for such a large gathering. A lone bagpiper evoked a mellow, gentle soothing air in the brilliant sunshine outside the little church as the funeral cortege arrived. With a call to attention, firefighter pallbearers carried their comrade’s casket into the sanctuary, followed by Mr. Keinz widow and children, followed by the uniformed contingent entering the church Father John Quinn, in his homily struck just the right note that resonated with this observer, and probably many in the audience that nobody sees such an event coming and why it happens, if there is a God. The father noted that just today scientists had discovered what they call the “God particle” smaller than an atom that the scientists determine is essential for life to begin. In a masterful corollary, the priest pointed out that science is catching up with the church because the church has always believed that God is in every one of us. Countering the “why” behind such events, Father Quinn gave the example of a saint who questioned why Christ had to die on the cross. The answer the saint received was that God sacrificed what mattered the most, (His only son), to demonstrate through Christ’s resurrection what matters most, the gift of life, leading to the Christian belief in the natural progression of Birth, Live, Death, and Resurrection. Quinn stressed that it is the example of the good life and how we live it (referring to Mr. Keinz’s example) that inspires us to be more God-like. Commissioner of Public Safety David Chong, speaking in hallowed tones, pointed out how the outpouring of so many persons to attend the ceremony today who knew Mr. Keinz was a testimony to the kind of man he was. Chong said Mr. Keinz, in charge of training for the fire department trained his men thoroughly, because Keinz believed “there was no margin for error.” He recalled that Keinz always saluted him, as a testimony to Heinz’s professionalism. Chong said he once told Keinz that he did not have to salute him, but Keinz answered back,"That's O.K. I salute everyone." At the conclusion of his eulogy of Mr. Keinz, Commissioner Chong saluted Mr. Keintz's casket, swathed in white, with Mr. Keintz's white chief's helmet on top. Mr. Keinz would have been proud of his children, Emily and Bryan. They who spoke of what their father had done for them and the kind of person he was, with controlled emotion and meaningful lessons he had taught them. Emily, spoke of how he was dedicated to his family, and very funny, and never missed any of her softball games. When she was upset over game events, she remembered how he always told her to concentrate on “the next inning, the next pitch.” His son said how touched he is that so many people have come up to him since his father’s death saying how his father had saved their lives or had helped save lives. He recalled their commaraderie when his father helped him build a house, or as Bryan put it, "I helped him build my house.He was a selfless, dependable man, who never did anything without a backup plan, and had a backup plan for the backup plan.” Firefighters formed two lines outside the church. The pallbearers bore their comrade's casket out to the waiting hearse and the journey to the cemetery. People were reluctant to leave lingering, talking quietly and perhaps thinking about the lessons of the last farewell.I know I was. The cortege departs. Mr. Kienz lives on.


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