John J. Keane, Jr.

TOWSON, MD – John J. Keane, Jr. died peacefully on April 10, 2015 at the Brightview Assisted Living facility in Towson, MD where he had been a resident for almost three years. He was almost 93.

Mr. Keane was born in Matahambre, in the province of Pinar del Rio, Cuba on May 20, 1922 to John J. and Bernadette C. Keane.  At that time, his father was employed by the American Metals Company as a supervisor at the Minas de Matahambre, which was one of the largest copper /silver mines operating in the region.

Mr. Keane graduated from Fordham Preparatory School, Fordham College and Fordham Law School. His senior year in college was interrupted by World War II; he enlisted in the U.S.  Army and served in London, England in the intelligence unit under General Eisenhower. He worked in an office that was located diagonally from General Eisenhower’s HQ at 20 Grosvenor Square. His nearest scrape with a military death came when General Patton stormed into his office unannounced and he and several other soldiers were found to be wearing loosened neckties.

During his time in England, Mr. Keane met Kathleen McEnery, an Irish girl who came to London before the war, lived through the Blitz, during which she was “bombed-out” several times by the Luftwaffe, and ran additional risks by accompanying Corporal Keane on frequent visits to pubs and shows with air raid wardens in hot pursuit. After the war, Ms. McEnery traveled to New York City on the longest and roughest crossing ever made by the Queen Mary, and the couple married and had six children whom they raised in New York City, on Long Island and in Johnstown, N.Y. Before coming to the Brightview Assisted Living Center, Mr. Keane resided at the Beverwyck Senior Living Center in Slingerlands, N.Y. and at 15 Kensington Place in Albany, NY.

Mr. Keane worked as a young attorney at several firms in NYC including Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy; he later served as Deputy Town Attorney for the Town of Oyster Bay, Long Island; as the first Executive Director of the Fulmont Community Action Agency in Fonda, N.Y.; and as a senior staff member of the health planning division at the New York State Department of Health.

Mr. Keane had three brothers (Jim, Bob and Frank) who were devoted to each other after childhood sandlot games and other happy times.  Both Bob and Frank survive him, as does Bob’s spouse Rose, as do his six children and their spouses—John (Margaret), Mary, Lucy (Mike) Brandow, Anne, Peter (Helen) and Bernadette (Dick) Felch; eight grandchildren (Lisa, Kelly, Erica, Jake, Kathleen, Matt, John and Andrew); and four great-grandchildren.

Mr. Keane was a kind gentleman with a sharp mind and an acute sense of humor who loved reading, Notre Dame football and NY/SF Giants baseball.

A Catholic Mass will be celebrated in remembrance of Mr. Keane at 11:00 AM on Friday, April 17 at the Parish of Mater Christi at 40 Hopewell Street in Albany, NY 12208.  Donations are not encouraged but can be sent to the Parish of Mater Christi.  To leave a message of condolence for the family or obtain directions to the funeral home, please visit www.HansFuneralHome.com.

Click here to view Mr. Keane’s resting place in St. Agnes Cemetery, Menands, NY (zip code Albany, NY 12204).

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