Keith Bilter passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, December 29th, from complications of a genetic blood disorder and cancer. Keith was born in Dayton, Ohio, but moved to Hayward, California in 1953. He attended Hayward High School where he was the fall semester Student Body President and graduated in 1959. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of California, Berkeley in 1963 and then attended the University of California School of Law (Boalt Hall) in Berkeley where he was Head Note and Comment Editor of the Law Review. He began his legal career with Thelen, Marrin, Johnson and Bridges in San Francisco (1966-1992) where he was Chair of the firm's Trusts and Estates Group (1980-1992). While there, he was also Adjunct Faculty, University of San Francisco School of Law, teaching Estate Planning from 1977-1982. Keith then became a partner in the San Francisco firm of Friedman McCubbin Law Group LLP where he remained until his death.

His professional activities included many speeches and publications. He served for several years as a member, advisor and chair of the Executive Committee of the California State Bar Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law Section. He was a Speaker/Author at numerous tax institutes and seminars. His other professional activities include being a Fellow of the American Bar Association and of the American College of Trusts and Estates Counsel, and an Academician of the International Academy of Estate and Trust Law. He has been listed in every edition of "The Best Lawyers in America".