The College of Saint Elizabeth (CSE) will honor and recognize a family of well-know restaurateurs and community philanthropists at its Seventh Annual Celebrate Scholarship and Excellence Benefit Gala on Thursday, June 19 from 6 to 10:30 p.m. at the Madison Hotel in Morristown. This year’s honorees are the Keller Family, owners of Madison Hotel and Rod’s Steak and Seafood Grille.

 

According to Sister Francis Raftery, President at CSE, the Keller Family has long embodied the essence of good neighborliness in the Convent Station area and beyond.

 

“Over the years, so many of us in this part of New Jersey have been indebted to the Kellers for their generous support of charitable causes. The Madison is such a good neighbor to the College of Saint Elizabeth, and feels like home to us as we celebrate many happy College occasions there.”

 

Rod’s Steak and Seafood Grille was founded in 1951 by Rod and Regina Keller, parents of the next generation who run the business today. D. Peter Keller of Chatham, entered the family business in 1970 and today is Executive Vice President of Timbers, Inc., the parent company of the restaurant and hotel combination. With sister Kathy Keller Donohoe, of Harding, and brothers Richard of Morris Township, and Gene of Sea Girt, Peter Keller operates an award-winning restaurant and elegant hotel serving business travelers and local customers alike. 

 

The family members will be recipients of the College’s “Champion of Scholarship & Excellence” Award in recognition of their professional and personal commitments to excellence to the greater good of the community. Peter Keller, who is past President and 25-year member of the Board of Directors of the New Jersey Restaurant Association, is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Eva’s Village in Paterson and a past member of the Lay board of Trustees of Delbarton School. He is married to Carolyn. The couple has four children, D. Peter Keller, Jr., Madeleine, Aimee, and Ryan, and five grandchildren.

 

Eugene J. Keller, is Vice President of Timbers, Inc. and has worked in the family business since 1959. He is a past vice president and member of the Board of Directors of the New Jersey Restaurant Association. He is married to Maryann and the couple has eight children, Liz, Kathy, Rory, Courtney, John, Caitlin, Christopher and Kevin, and seven grandchildren.

 

Richard C. Keller, who serves as Vice President of Food and Beverage Service for Rod’s, is a former Staff Sergeant in the New Jersey National Guard. He entered into the family business in 1970 and performs all duties related to food and beverage purchasing He is married to Glenda, and the couple has two children, Richard, Jr. and Christine, and two grandchildren.

 

Kathy Keller Donohoe, has been Human Resource Director for the family business since 1995. The former Office Manager for Morristown medical Practice is married to Ed, and the couple has five children, Ed Jr., Amy, Christopher, Deborah and Susan and seven grandchildren.

 

Rod Keller, who died in 1972, and his wife Regina, who passed away in 1992, operated several New Jersey restaurants over the years: Rod’s in West Orange, the Shadowbrook and Rose O’Grady’s in Shrewsbury, The Acres in Whippany, and Rod’s in Convent Station. Devoted to Delbarton School in Morristown, the Kellers passed their respect and affection for Catholic education on to their seven sons and daughters. The Rod and Regina Keller Memorial Scholarship Fund was endowed in their memory at Delbarton.

 

Members of the general public are invited to attend this year’s benefit gala. Bid on jewelry, trips and other fabulous prizes in the silent auction; be entertained by the Irish sounds of the Billy Keenan Prime time Show Band, and dine elegantly in the Glynallen Ballroom. All will be followed by a 50/50 raffle.

 

Individual general admission tickets start at $250. For benefactor ticket prices, sponsorship opportunities, raffle ticket purchase, or to make reservations to attend this year’s gala, contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at the College of Saint Elizabeth at (973) 290-4450 or email: gala@cse.edu.

 

The Annual Celebrate Scholarship and Excellence Benefit Gala has raised over $640,000 since 2002 for the benefit of CSE students. The College welcomes sponsorship by corporate friends. For information, please call 973-290-4455.

 

Click here to find out more and to see highlights of last year’s event.