Dr. David Keast
Died: August 19, 2026 | Place: University Hospital, London
Services
Visitation
Thursday, August 27, 2026
2:00-4:00 pm
6:00-8:00 pm
A. Millard George Funeral Home
60 Ridout Street South
London, Ontario
N6C 3X1
Future Inurnment
Woodland Cemetery
London, Ontario
Obituary
KEAST, Dr. David…
David passed away peacefully with family by his side at University Hospital, on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, a day short of his 81st birthday.
Dr. David Keast was born in 1945, in London, Ontario, where he proudly lived throughout his life. David grew up and was always proud to have been an “East Side Adelaide kid.” He attended Beck Secondary School before continuing his education at Western University, where he earned a master’s degree in chemistry. After completing Teachers’ College, David began his career teaching chemistry at Montcalm Secondary School, a role he held for 11 years. His passion for learning eventually led him in a new direction, and he was accepted to Queen’s University to study medicine, graduating in 1985. David went on to establish his own family practice, caring for patients for 25 years before shifting his focus to chronic wound management. He became a respected leader in the field and, for a time, served as Medical Director of the Outpatient Chronic Wound Management Clinic at Parkwood Institute in London. Throughout his career, David remained dedicated to education and advancing medical knowledge, teaching and publishing extensively while sharing his expertise with colleagues and future generations of healthcare professionals.
David was predeceased by his father Howard Keast, his mother Ruth Keast (nee O’Connor) and his beloved younger sister Deborah Lucy. He is lovingly survived by his wife, Heather (nee Ross); his son, Matthew and his children Jordan and Makenna; his daughter Erin and her daughter Maya; as well as his niece Kristin, her husband Ryan Ball and their children Ethan and Kyle. Also fondly remembered by his brother-in-law, Paul Ross, his wife Ruth Mercer Ross, her daughter Jennifer and her husband Mark McDougall, and their children Charles and William. He will be missed by numerous friends, colleagues and associates both at home and around the world.
Cremation has taken place. Family and friends are welcome for visitation on Thursday, August 27, 2026 from 2:00-4:00 pm and 6:00-8:00 pm at the A. Millard George Funeral Home, 60 Ridout Street South, London. A private family service will be held with future inurnment at Woodland Cemetery, London.
For those who wish to make a memorial donation in memory of David, the family asks you to consider the St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation, the Metropolitan United Church Foundation, or the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada. The family would like to extend a warm thank you to the physicians, nurses, support staff and associates for the professionalism, kindness and compassion shown to David and to the family at LHSC. In closing, David would respectfully ask that we show a little more kindness and consideration to each other and to remember those who have not. This is how David lived his life.
Online condolences, memories and photographs shared at www.amgfh.com
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Ron and Liz Brearley - St. Joseph's Health Care Foundation
DORIS J DWYER - St. Joseph's Health Care Foundation
Andrew and Rosa Peat - St. Joseph's Health Care Foundation
Dwight & Faye Kinsman - St. Joseph's Health Care Foundation
Tanya Keast - St. Joseph's Health Care Foundation
Tanya Keast - St. Joseph's Health Care Foundation
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Heather, Matt and Erin, I am so sorry for your loss. I’ll always remember his kindness and the wonderful smile he had each time I saw him.
Jordan and Makenna,
I am so sorry for the loss of your Papa David. I’m sad you have now lost both your grandpas but happy that you had some good years with them. I’m always here for you, Mom ❤️
Wishing the Keast family condolences for your loss.
It was my privilege and honor to serve with David on the board of the CAWC.
A learned, distinguished and kind man, who has educated and influenced thousands (myself included) in the art of being humane through his passion for wound care and hydrangeas.
He will be missed fondly.
Heather, I am so sorry for your loss. David was a pillar of our woundcare community for so many years and a good friend. We will all miss him. His was a life well lived.
Heather, Matt & Erin
So sorry for your loss. Our deepest condolences at this sad time.
Dear Heather and family,
On behalf of the Canadian Lymphedema Framework, please accept our deepest condolences on the sudden and heartbreaking loss of David.
David has been part of the CLF since the very beginning – as a founding member, Co-Chair, Chair, Treasurer, Past Chair, Editorial Board member, Scientific Committee member, author, speaker, mentor, and trusted guide. It is almost impossible to capture the full measure of what he has meant to our organization and to the lymphedema community in Canada and around the world.
More than any title or role, we will remember David for the way he led: with wisdom, humility, patience, compassion, and deep respect for patients, colleagues, and the work itself. His knowledge was extraordinary, but so was his kindness. He gave so generously of his time and experience, and his steady presence helped shape the CLF in ways that will continue to guide us for years to come.
We are shocked and deeply saddened by his passing, and we are holding you and your family in our hearts. David’s legacy is immense, and we are profoundly grateful for all that he gave to the CLF, to Pathways, and to the broader wound care and lymphedema communities.
With heartfelt sympathy and deepest respect,
Bonnie Baker
Executive Director, Canadian Lymphedema Framework
on behalf of the CLF Board, staff, Editorial Board, and community
David’s passing represents a great loss to the Canadian and international lymphedema community, and to me personally. He was my mentor, generous with his time, always ready to answer questions, always available when I needed confirmation on medical questions related to lymphedema. He was humble, kind, yet straightforward and true. I especially appreciated his exquisite judgement. I hope the family are comforted in knowing about all that he contributed, up to just a few weeks ago.
Dear Heather,thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this sad time
From my time on the WCA Board of Directors of Parkwood Hospital, I remember Dr. Keast as a dedicated advocate for the wellbeing of his patients. My sincere condolences to his family and friends.
Dearest Heather, and your family and friends..
My heart breaks for your loss of your precious love David. My heart and listening thoughts will always be yours. You have been sooo kind and loving during my own loss …Softest Prayers
We are so sorry to hear about David’s passing. He was a great friend and will be truly missed by all of us. Let us know if we can be of any assistance to you or the family.
I fondly remember teaching at Montcalm Secondary School with David. He was best buddies with Butch Findley before deciding to be a medical doctor.
Len Lesser, Dorchester Ontario
I’m sorry to hear about the passing of your father/husband. Although I wasn’t in his classes I heard about his going to medical school later on. I attended Montcalm Secondary School from September 1974 until June 1976 for grades nine and ten. I would later attend Western part time in the 90s and I always had a great deal of respect for any classmate that went on to study medicine. The way I saw it they were doing the heavy lifting, so I never lost any sleep about them driving a better car than I did.
I was deeply saddened to learn of Dr David H. Keast’s passing. I had the privilege of working with David through the International Wound Infection Institute (IWII), where I witnessed his remarkable knowledge, generosity, kindness and unwavering commitment to improving wound care worldwide.
David was an inspiring colleague and a true leader whose wisdom and humanity touched so many. His extraordinary legacy will live on through the professionals he mentored, the knowledge he shared and the countless patients whose care he helped improve.
My heartfelt condolences go to his wife, Heather, his children, the entire Keast family, and all his friends and colleagues. He will be deeply missed and always remembered.
My condolences Heather on your great loss of David. I have benefited from your and David’s friendship over the years.
David was a beloved family physician for 25 years. He cared deeply for his patients and was a respected clinician. He also was a leader in research in family practice being a key member of the Thames Valley Family Practice Research Unit (TVFPRU). This Unit was a collaboration of the London Chapter of the College of Family Physicians of Canada of which David was the President, and Western’s Centre for Studies in Family Medicine. David participated in discussions about research and helped conduct the research too, over a period of about 15 years starting in 1989. He was a highly valued colleague with a keen intellect and steady commitment.
My sincere condolences
Moira Stewart
David was a wonderful man and an outstanding clinician and educator. I recently recorded a podcast with David and Heather Orsted. It was a 10 min podcast that took and hour to record because we laughed so much. That was David a wicked sense of humour when it counted. That podcast will be a lasting memory of the infamous Dr Keast not only in my heart but those involved in wounds across Canada and the world. Rest in Peace Dr Keast it’s a well deserved rest after a lifetime of achievement.
Dear Heather my deepest condolences on your loss.So many wonderful experiences shared with you both.You and the Keast family have a special place in my heart.
Our condolences to the Keast family on David’s passing. I saw David maybe 10-11 years ago as a patient at a clinic he attended in Tillsonburg. He was helpful in my Neuropathy diagnosis. It was a pleasure to meet him that day. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family at this sad time.
Paul and Family
Sincere Condolences!
Dear Heather (Keast)–On behalf of London Symphonia I send condolences to you and your family. Dr. Keast’s impact will be felt for many years, including his work at the Wound Care clinic. I trust that the many memories will be bring you moments of warmth and joy. Best, Betty Anne (Younker), President, London Symphonia; Chair, Board of Directors.
It is impossible for me to adequately express the depth of my sorrow and the enormity of my respect for the memory of this great physician- great visionary-great human being. Rest in peace my brother!
I met David in the very early days of the International Interdisciplinary Would Care Course where he was a hard-working founding faculty member. I remember a dear, kind man. My deep sympathies to Heather (who I heard so much about from David) and family.
Sorry for your loss.
It was a honor to get to work with Dr Keast at Parkwood.
Prayers and Condolences to the Keast Family.
I had the privilege to work with Dr. Keast in Wound Care Research at Parkwood Hospital and will always remember his kind heart and gentle presence. Dr. Keast had a way in making people feel seen and appreciated. He will be fondly remembered.
Rest in Peace Dr. Keast.
I am so sorry for your family’s loss, it was very sad to hear of Dr. Keast’s passing and I’m sending my deepest condolences.
I had the absolute honour and pleasure to get the chance to work with Dr. Keast during the last few years at his wound clinic at Parkwood. It always felt like I learned something new with every conversation I had with him.
He was an amazing person who had a great impact on the lives of a lot of people, and he will be greatly missed by many.
My deepest condolences Heather to you and your family. I worked at Parkwood Hospital for years with Dr. Keast and always enjoyed our chats. He was always kind to me. I will always remember him fondly.
I was shocked to read about David’s death. I want to extend my sympathy and condolences to Dr Keast’s family. As a chaplain, I worked with David on the Veterans’ Care Team for many years at Parkwood.
God bless you as you grieve, mourn and celebrate his life, love and service. He is missed!
My most sincere condolences to you Heather, Matt and Erin.
Wonderful family memories especially Christmas time at the Keast household.
DAVID was a good man, extremely intelligent and respectful in every way.
I find it hard to realize that he has passed and so quickly.
My deepest condolences to the family. I am honoured to have had David as a wonderful mentor. His passion and understanding of wound care made a difference in the lives of so many people.
Dr Keast was my wonderful doctor for many years. I am eternally grateful for his care. Please accept my sincere condolences on this passing.