Remembering Keith Alm

Keith Alm, longtime champion of the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts and member of the school’s National Council, passed away August 12. He was 81 years old.

Alm was born in Chicago and earned degrees in marketing from Bradley University and Wake Forest University’s Babcock School of Management. He went on to serve in senior and executive leadership positions at numerous national and international companies, including Hanesbrands, Sara Lee, and Hallmark International. Alm was devoted to his family, including his wife, Beth, and sons, Keith Jr. and Michael, BFA’ 06, and their families.

Alm’s support for the Sam Fox School as a parent, friend, and advisor has been significant for nearly two decades. He joined the National Council in 2006 as the school was taking shape and served consecutively for 19 years.

Particularly valuable during the development of the school’s first strategic plan, Alm encouraged careful thinking about goals and outcomes. Additionally, he served as a member of the school’s campaign committee from 2012-2018. Along with his wife, Alm was a longstanding, generous supporter of the school’s mission and programs.

You can learn more about Alm’s life and accomplishments in this obituary. Two memorial services are planned: Saturday, September 28, at 2:00 p.m., at First Presbyterian Church in Concord, N.C., and Saturday, October 26, at 2:00 p.m., at Village Presbyterian Church in Prairie Village, Kan. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Missouri Chapter of the Nature Conservancy to support the Dunn Ranch Prairie in Alm’s memory.