Dorothy B. (Bosch) Keller

Dorothy Bosch Keller (b. 12/30/1940) left this world on October 27, 2025 after a lengthy illness. An esteemed teacher, renowned lecturer, avid traveler and gifted artist and photographer, Dorothy discovered her first passion in life, art, at an early age. She received her BS degree from the Hartford Art School at the University of Hartford in 1962 followed by a Masters in Education in 1963. She was named a distinguished alumna in 2007. Dorothy continued her studies in Paris, Florence, Italy and Israel.

Early in her career, she held a variety of internships and positions at the Wadsworth Atheneum, becoming an Elector of the museum in 1984. She began her teaching career at St. Joseph College (now University of St. Joseph) in West Hartford, CT in 1961 where she discovered her second passion in life – teaching. Her goal was to not only teach about art, but to infuse a love of culture and critical thinking, encouraging her students to engage in a quest to understand art and cultures. While there she obtained an MA in Religious Studies in 1985, was named a distinguished alumni in 1999 and received an honorary doctorate in 2017.

Dorothy was a world traveler, visiting countries to learn the culture and history of their art forms. Her travels are where she discovered her third passion in life – art history and archeology. Her research eventually focused on the Middle East and Africa, traveling to Egypt over 50 times, to Iran, Libya, Kenya and Tanzania. It was during one of her many grant-funded research excursions in 1995 in Thebes, Egypt that she found herself plummeted six-feel below ground, discovering an unknown burial site which was later determined to be a site for workers of the Pharoah’s tomb.

Dorothy’s commitment extended to many community organizations dedicated to arts, art preservation, history and archaeology. She loved giving guided tours of Hartford’s history and neighborhoods while a board member of the Hartford Preservation Alliance. She provided guided tours of collections at the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, the New Britain Museum of Art, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City among others where other patrons and museum docents would be drawn to her magnetism and follow her to learn from her vast knowledge and expertise. Being in her presence at one of these tours was like watching the “Pied Piper” of art in action.

Dorothy retired from the University of St. Joseph in 2021 having dedicated herself for over 50 years to the University, its mission and her students. At the time of her retirement, she was chair of Culture, Arts and Language Department and upon retirement was named Professor Emerita. Her goal was to infuse a love of art, culture, research, critical thinking and history to her students.

Dorothy was predeceased by her loving husband, Deane G. Keller, her beloved mother Catherine D. Bosch, her father Joseph Bosch, her brothers Jerome Gapski, Raymond Goff and Joseph Goff and her sister Catherine Goff. She leaves behind a host of nieces and nephews and their families: April Goff Brown (Lew), Christopher Goff (Deborah), Joanne Majewski, June McKernan (Kenny), Linda Suydam (Barry), Karen Baxley, Peggy Gilbert (Mickey), Myran Gapski (Ann-Marie), Mary Jane Sample (Scott), Michael Goff, Jane Turgeon (Roger) and James Woolley. She was predeceased by her nephew and godson, Joseph Goff and niece Patricia Woolley.

A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for Monday, November 3rd at 11:00 a.m. at St. John Fisher Roman Catholic Church in Marlborough followed by a private internment. In lieu of flowers, you are asked to make a donation in Dorothy’s name to the University of St. Joseph or the Wadsworth Atheneum.

Dorothy succinctly summed up her life of passion for arts, teaching and research in an interview where she said “It’s been a marvelous journey. I can’t imagine anything that could replicate it.” The world was richer for her brilliance, dedication, and love of every art form and culture she encountered. To leave online condolences please visit www.spencerfuneralhomeinc.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dorothy B. (Bosch) Keller, please visit our floral store.