Wells H. Keddie, a retired Labor Studies professor known for being outspoken about workers' rights, animal rights and social justice, died of a heart attack Saturday night in his home.
Keddie was 80 years old and still an active labor activist, a member of the American Association of University Professors, and the American Federation of Teachers.
He regularly visited classes in the Labor Studies Department, particularly an introductory level class he helped shape.
"During his professional life he worked to address social injustices, and has been active in the union movement," said BJ Walker, a staff representative of University faculty.
As a 33-year member of the National AAUP executive committee, Keddie held many past positions, including president, treasurer, grievance chair, co-chair of the negotiations committee and chair of the legislative committee, Walker said.
"He never wavered from being a worker advocate. Although he had a Ph.D., he never forgot his roots as a worker," said Amy Bahruth, president of the AAUP part-time lecturer chapter and a close friend of Keddie.
The AAUP has previously conferred upon Keddie the Marilyn Sternberg Award, which is given to "the AAUP member who best demonstrates the concern for human rights, courage, persistence, political foresight, imagination and collective bargaining skills."
Keddie is also the namesake of a scholarship given by the AAUP/AFT, which is given out to a student who shows strong social activism.
As a Labor Studies professor, Keddie taught several classes, ranging from introductory labor courses to upper level material such as conflict and conflict resolutions in the work place, public sector collective bargaining and theories of the labor movement.
Keddie authored books for classes he taught, and wrote a number of articles related to his devotion to the study of the college faculty unions and unionism, said Paula Voos, a labor studies professor.
"He was an advocate for the underdog, in whatever area the underdog was," Walker said.
"He has butted heads with the administration on more than one occasion. Ones that didn't agree with him still had a great deal of respect for him."
Two years ago, Keddie retired, but for the past three and a half weeks at the end of Bahruth's classes, he would come in to interact with the students with role-playing scenarios.
He devised a "bargaining game" with an entire storyline for student to role-play the bargaining between workers and management to form a union contract.
Even after retirement, Keddie stayed extremely active to the very end, his colleagues said.
"Last week alone, Keddie participated in our union executive council meeting, attended higher education meetings in Trenton and fought hard for justice until the end," said Bahruth in an e-mail. "His commitment was an inspiration to many generations of students, friends and comrades."
"If I wanted someone fighting for me … If I wanted someone standing up for me, I would want him to be the one to stand up for me," said Walker. "If I ever needed anything he would be the one I would ask and if he couldn't help me he would find someone who could."
Keddie will be survived by his wife, Mary Gibson, daughter, Heather S. Keddie, son, Hamilton Keddie, brother, Douglas Keddie, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces, grandnieces and grandnephews.
There are no funeral arrangements set at the moment. However, Bahruth said there will be a memorial in May to celebrate his life that will be separate from the funeral and wake.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Wells Keddie Scholarship Fund, c/o Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters, 48 Street 1603, Livingston Campus, Piscataway, N.J. 08854.
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