Jon Clarke Keates Scholarship

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Jon Keates on April 19, 2024, at his home in Altadena, CA. He was 80 years old.

Jon served as the Chief Philanthropic Advisor to the President and Director of Advancement at La Salle College Preparatory from 2012 until his passing. During his tenure, Jon’s visionary leadership ignited extraordinary growth in overall giving, elevating annual contributions from $950,000 to over $2.1 million. His legacy is woven into numerous transformative capital projects, including the most recent $500,000 Full STEAM Ahead campaign and renovation projects to upgrade art studios, biology labs, and Kohorst track and field. Among his most cherished achievements was the establishment of the Dr. Richard Gray Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund, which generated over $1.2 million to support San Miguel students. His contributions laid the foundation for many of the institution’s present-day facilities and educational spaces.

Jon’s indelible mark extends beyond La Salle College Preparatory; his previous roles as Senior Associate Dean and VP of Advancement at USC, VP of Institutional Advancement at Occidental College, and VP of Development & External Relations at Claremont McKenna College, among other higher educational institutions reflect a lifetime dedicated to advancing education and philanthropy.

He is survived by his loving daughters, Dages and Bailey, his brother James, his sisters Shelley and Joanne, and his devoted partner, Thanh. A memorial service honoring Jon’s life will take place on May 11, 2024. In tribute to his memory and achievements, we ask that you contribute to the Jon Clarke Keates Scholarship.