William "Bill" Keleher

William Barrett Keleher passed away at home on November 12, 2025.

Bill lived his 92 years with grace, generosity, and compassion. He loved the law, practicing with Keleher & McLeod for nearly sixty years, until finally retiring in 2017. He was a Fellow in the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, was listed in Best Lawyers in America for Real Estate Law and Corporate Law, and served on the Federal Magistrate Section Panel for the District of New Mexico for 14 years (1994-2009).

Bill was deeply committed to his family, his community, and his faith. He cheerfully attended concerts, dance recitals, ice skating performances, track meets, swimming meets, basketball games, football games, soccer games, wrestling competitions, and rugby matches, as well as taking his family on day trips around New Mexico. He loved Albuquerque and New Mexico and was always happy to share his encyclopedic knowledge of New Mexico history and personalities.

Throughout his career, Bill devoted many hours to supporting the state and local community, including service on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of Kirtland Partnership Committee and the Board of Directors of Casa Angelica Foundation. He was an honorary lifetime member of the Board of Directors of Albuquerque Economic Development corporation, a member of the Economic Forum of Albuquerque, a member of the Albuquerque Armed Forces Advisory Committee, and a recipient of the Steve Schiff Kirtland Air Force Base Advocacy Award (2012). Together with others in his family, he was recognized with the NAIOP Award of Excellence in 2004. He chaired Senator Pete V. Domenici's campaigns for re-election in 1996 and 2002 as well as serving on the Board of Directors of the Valles Caldera Trust.

Bill was a devout Catholic and strove to live and work morally and ethically. Until shortly before his death, he attended Mass daily, often serving as a reader.

Bill is survived by his wife of 67 years, Jan; his five children and their spouses, Mary Keleher Castle (Bruce), and their children, Emily and David Castle; Joann Keleher Wylie (Phil) and their children, Jordan and James Wylie; William R. Keleher (Nora Kelly) and their children, William K. Keleher, Tessa Kelly, and Andrew Keleher; Mark Keleher (Elaine Leung), and Julia Keleher (Christopher Dineen) and their children, Lillian, Jonah, and Ilse Dineen; and three great-grandchildren, Finnegan Keleher, Calvin Neufeld, and Hazel Keleher. He is also survived by his brothers and their spouses, Michael L. Keleher (Peggy), John G. Keleher (Suzanne Caskey), and Thomas F. Keleher (Greta); and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was pre-deceased by his sister, Mary Ann Keleher Rogers; brother-in-law, James Rogers; sister-in-law, Linda Keleher; nephew, John Bureau Keleher; nephew, Michael Rogers; and great-niece, Samantha Keleher Bursum.

The Rosary will be held Friday, December 5, 2025, 6:00 p.m. at FRENCH - University, with visitation beginning at 5:00 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, December 6, 2025, 9:00 a.m., at Our Lady of Fatima Church, 4020 Lomas Blvd. NE. Burial will follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery. Pallbearers will be William K. Keleher, Andrew Keleher, Jordan Wylie, James Wylie, Jonah Dineen, and David Castle.