Those who had worked with him recalled his many achievements, including the series of editorials he wrote on the state's investigation into municipal corruption in New Britain involving rigged civil-service promotional examinations. The probe resulted in the conviction of several city employees on criminal charges.
"Henry placed a very high premium and set a very high standard on the importance of local editorials and the role of a daily newspaper to help set the agenda for a community," said Bill Millerick, president of the New Britain Chamber of Commerce, who was named The Herald's editorial page director in 1985 after Keezing became executive editor.
"He will always be remembered for writing passionately and expertly on issues important in the daily lives of people in central Connecticut" Millerick said.
Dick Covini, who retired as suburban editor in 1990, credited Keezing with making The Herald a family newspaper as well as being able to "comment on local, national and international news with great understanding.
"He was a fine man who cared about people and the language. He was a credit to The Herald," Covini said.
Former Herald general manager Lindsley Wellman agreed. Wellman worked with Keezing for almost 50 years. After Keezing retired in 1993, he and Wellman met almost daily to discuss local and national news over a cup of coffee.
Wellman called Keezing "erudite - someone who was a wonderful resource."
"Hank was a good person who loved his family," Wellman said. "He was an award-winning editor who cared for The Herald and made it a family newspaper."
In part, Millerick indicated, that came from Keezing's devotion to his own family. "Henry was a great family man who loved his wife, his children and the New Britain Herald," Millerick said.
During his 40-year career, Keezing interviewed governors, senators and presidents, reported on floods and municipal corruption and campaigned vigorously and successfully for the state's Freedom of Information law.
He became friends with some of those officials who felt his editorial lash while in office. He and former New Britain Mayor Bill McNamara had their disagreements when McNamara was in office, but later became friends when they retired.
At that time, The Herald's editor and publisher, Judith V.W. Brown, said Keezing "managed the newsroom with style and humor" - with his personal style being a trademark pipe and goatee.
During his retirement, Keezing wrote a weekly column, "In Focus," which was based on his observations of life in New Britain and Florida, where he and his wife, Shirley, vacationed.
Even as he moved on from hard news, in October 1993, Keezing told Herald reporter Sid DeBoer that many people tend to "accept the entertaining, quick image reports of the visual media rather than take the time to read substantive, in-depth newspaper accounts of happenings."
Said Keezing: "I feel that's a trend not good for society. In general, newspapers are still a good place where reporters and editors do their best to tell readers the news as accurately, concisely and objectively as possible."
He practiced what he preached, said Judge Thomas Meskill, a former New Britain mayor and later governor, who called Keezing "always fair in his political coverage and ... respected as editor of The Herald."