Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017:
Keane, William

Teacher; mathematician, philosopher; born Nhill, Victoria, 27 June 1885; died Sydney, 13 August 1960, aged 75.

Bill Keane was educated at Xavier College, Kew, 1896-1900, being dux in 1900 at the age of 15. He was very gifted, quick and alert. He entered the Jesuits, 23 February 1901, and was a novice under Aloysius Sturzo at Greenwich, Sydney. He went to Tullamore, Ireland, for his second year noviceship and juniorate, graduating from University College in 1908 with a first class degree in mathematics. Later he gained a Master of Arts degree.

Then he proceeded to Stonyhurst, England, for philosophy, and returned to Xavier College, Kew, for regency from 1910-15. Theology studies, 1915-19, were at Milltown Park, Dublin, and his tertianship at Tronchiennes, Belgium.

During his studies he completed a well-respected thesis on Pragmatism. He also drew attention to the importance of Milton's Latin correspondence, and while at Riverview made a notable defense of truth in the presentation of modern European history against the age-old errors that had been fed to school children and university students in the protestant world.

He returned to Xavier College, 1920-25, being prefect of studies in 1922. At this time he proved himself an outstanding teacher of Latin, history, English, mathematics and science, but it was in mathematics that he really excelled. He had the gift of making the most abstract problems appear simple and easy to solve.

He took a great interest in all forms of sport, and could discourse freely on cricket, football and rowing. In cricket, however, he was probably at his best. He loved umpiring matches and must have spent hours on the main oval at Xavier. He had an unusual collection of cricket problems that he propounded to the boys and the community with the greatest delight. He had a wonderful memory and could relate the achievements of famous batsmen and bowlers in Australia and in England.

He was editor of the Xaverian, in which he published a series of articles entitled 'Twenty years of Public Schools Sport'. He had a great knowledge of Old Xaverians and stories connected with them.

He taught at Riverview and St Aloysius' College, Sydney, 1926-1935, and lectured in philosophy at St John's College, University of Sydney, 1930-1933. He professed philosophy at Loyola College, Watsonia, 1936-1938 before the philosophate moved to Canisius College, Pymble, in 1939.

Then Keane was appointed rector of Canisius, and teacher of logic and ontology. When theology began in 1940, he taught fundamental theology, dogma, church history and oriental questions at various times. He returned to teaching mathematics at Riverview in 1954, but, after a stroke later that year, was confined to hospital, where he died six years later. For the last two years he was speechless.

While in Sydney, Keane was much sought after by bishops, priests and religious. The apostolic delegate asked him to undertake the delicate work of amalgamating the Mercy sisters. He was also asked to prepare papers on Catholic Action, and he was heavily involved in the public debate on the 'New Education' of which he did not approve. He was a traditionalist in thought and action, and believed that the past provided the best theory and guidelines for action in education, theology and social thought.

He was well versed in the Jesuit theory of education, especially as outlined in the Ratio Studiorum, and was instrumental in calling and organising the first Jesuit secondary education conference in the province in 1933.

He also took an interest in the Sisters of St Joseph. At the request of the Cardinal Archbishop of Sydney he collected and set in order the official documents concerning their foundress, Mother Mary MacKillop. These were forwarded to Rome with a view to her beatification.

Keane was a very gifted man at the classics, science, mathematics, philosophy, theology, preaching and retreat giving. As a teacher he had the ability to make even the arid scholasticism of the textbooks a gripping and humane experience. His supreme gift was his appreciation of the wider context of any system of education, and his unfailing encouragement of those with the adventurous spirit to explore for themselves. He was an interesting and well-informed speaker who possessed a ready and quick mind, and a fine power of expression. Notwithstanding this gift, he still prepared his sermons and lectures with very great care and labour.

However, he was not noted for his prudence or administrative gifts. He could be very petty in administering religious order in the theologate. Perhaps his greatest gift was teaching boys - he was very clear, methodical, and a meticulously accurate teacher of mathematics. An outstanding trait of his character was the lively interest he took in everyone he met, and in their work.

Those who lived with him found him a lively companion and the focus of many community stories. His last long illness, and his inability to speak, was a great cross to him, yet was borne courageously. In his death, the Australian province lost one of its most brilliant members, and one of its more colourful personalities.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)