Always interested in radios and sound equipment (he got his ham radio license at the age of 13), Wester ended up as a sound engineer for TV and movies. “If the sound equipment didn’t exist to do the job,” said his friend Paul Petersen, “Keith would invent it.”
One such case was his work on The Perfect Storm: Wester had to record dialogue on a flooded sound stage buffeted by 100-mph winds generated by huge fans. “It required that the microphone be able to record decent dialogue, first of all, and second, not be hurt when it was submerged, and third, pressed into use again for the next take,” Wester said later.
For the job, he combined a microphone, PVC tubing, foam and a condom, all held together with glue. “It worked like a charm. I think I’m going to send that one to the Smithsonian.” Indeed the device worked so well he was nominated for an Oscar for his work on the film. He also received Oscar nominations for his work on Black Rain (1996), Waterworld (1997), The Rock (1998), Armageddon (1998), and Air Force One (1999), and won an Emmy for his work on An Early Frost (1986). He died November 1 at his California home from cancer. He was 62.