Mr Whitaker said Mr Keane also helped create a lot of the guiding principles of real estate, which remain today.
"Real estate often gets a bad rap, but he was definitely one of the good guys."
Leaders managing director Elanor MacDonald worked with Mr Keane for more than a decade and said he would be sadly missed by the entire team.
"He was fantastic, he welcomed me into the Hawke's Bay real estate community," she said.
Ms MacDonald said she admired Mr Keane's ethics, consistency and his interest in the ever-changing face of real estate.
"He made sure it was a positive change when we became a regulated industry back in 2009. His family was number one but he was also a keen water skier. He had a boat up in Taupo and just recently went for a big burn on the skis."
She said she valued his knowledge and unconditional support. "He was good to everybody, he liked to help and was never driven by self interest."
Former business partner Penny Reid remembers a man who loved his food, friends and family.
"He was very genuine and always willing to help."
Mr Keane's final property listing was the historic Ongaonga General Store, which he described as a golden opportunity to own an integral part of Hawke's Bay history in a delightful country setting.
