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===== Jerome P. Keuper, founder and longtime president of the Florida 
Institute of Technology in Melbourne, died Monday of congestive 
heart failure. He was 81. =====
 


Keuper founded the school as Brevard Engineering College in 
rented junior high school classrooms in 1958 to provide training 
for the growing cadre of rocket technicians pouring into 
Florida's Space Coast.

When he retired in 1986, the school -- renamed Florida Institute 
of Technology in 1966 -- had grown into one of the largest and 
most respected private research universities in Florida.

Today, it has more than 4,400 students. Last May, it awarded 380 
undergraduate and graduate degrees to students at its main 
campus and 190 master's degrees at its 10 graduate centers 
around the country.

"Dr. Keuper's spirit is in every part of the Florida Tech 
campus. His vision, his drive to succeed and his unparalleled 
optimism made this university possible," said current FIT 
President Lynn Weaver.

Born and raised in Kentucky, Keuper earned a bachelor's degree 
from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a master's from 
Stanford University and a doctorate from the University of 
Virginia.

During World War II, he served as an intelligence officer in 
China and other parts of the world for the Office of Strategic 
Services.

Keuper came to Melbourne in 1958 as a rocket scientist, working 
for a contractor at what is now Kennedy Space Center.

In the summer of 1959, soon after he started the Brevard 
Engineering College in rented junior high classrooms, the 
Brevard County School District kicked the school out because 
Keuper allowed a black student to enroll. So Keuper moved the 
new school to a church until he got his own building through 
private donations.

Florida Board of Education member William L. Proctor, who was 
founder and longtime president of Flagler College in St. 
Augustine, called Keuper a driving force who helped establish 
clout for private colleges in Florida.

"I think he made a significant contribution to higher education 
in Florida," Proctor said.

Family members remembered Keuper as a fun-loving man with a warm 
personality.

"He was definitely a physicist, but he was funnier than heck. He 
knew how to tell a joke," said his daughter, Melanie Johnson.

Keuper is also survived by his wife of 52 years, Natalie, and a 
son, Philip.

Fountainhead Funeral Home in Palm Bay is handling arrangements.