News Net file photo of Denis Keegan at Chamber of Commerce Mixer in 2004
Posted 11/13/14 – Denis Peter Keegan, son of the late James Joseph Keegan and Virginia Bland Skinner, passed away peacefully Monday November 10th, surrounded by his wife and loving family. Denis had courageously fought a rare genetic kidney disease for many years.
Denis was born on December 17th, 1949, in South Orange, New Jersey. He was the youngest of five children. As a child, Denis enjoyed summering on Long Island with his family and fishing off the New Jersey shore. As a young ma,n Denis attended St. Peter’s University, graduating with a liberal arts degree in English.
Denis worked for non-profit organizations as part of the Foundation and Development team for over 40 years. He worked for St. Patrick’s Collegein Maynooth, Ireland, living in Europe while doing so in the late 1970s. In 1980, Denis returned to New Jersey and worked for community hospitals, including Cooper Community Hospital in Camden, New Jersey for more than 15 years. It was at Cooper Hospital that Denis met the love of his life, Karen, who managed the hospital gift store. The two were married in 1991. In 1997, Denis moved to Los Angeles where he continued his career at the National Children’s Cancer Foundation, the Red Cross in a similar capacity, and most recently as an Executive Director with White Memorial Medical Foundation in East Los Angeles.
Denis enjoyed reading science fiction novels, gourmet cooking, fishing,and hosting parties for families and friends. He was an accomplished conversationalist, and engaged everyone he met with thoughtful discussion and repartee.
Denis has a family who loved him greatly. He is survived by his wife Karen, who was his consummate soul mate and life partner, and with whom he enjoyed European travel, gourmet food, and spending time with his grandchildren. Denis has four children: Patrick Keegan, Peter Keegan, Katharine Lewars and Madeline Romo. Denis was grandfather to four grandchildren: Colin Keegan, Broderick Keegan, Lucas Lewars, and Payton Romo. Denis’s siblings also survive him: brother Jim of Long Island, brother Mel of Fountain Valley, California, brother John of Fanwood, New Jersey, and sister Mary of Hampden, Maine.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Creative Arts Group (Foothill Creative Arts Group, 108 N. Baldwin Avenue, Sierra Madre, CA 91024), the Sierra Madre Civic Club (SMCC, PO BOX 413 Sierra Madre CA 91025), the Rotary Club of Sierra Madre California (Rotary Club of Sierra Madre, P.O. Box 863, Sierra Madre, CA 91025), or White Memorial Medical Foundation of Los Angeles (https://12596.thankyou4caring.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=298 ).
Services will be held at the Mater Delorosa Retreat on Friday, November 14th at 10:00AM, at 700 N. Sunnyside Ave. Sierra Mardre, CA 90124. Reception to follow at the Keegan residence, 233 W. Grandview Ave. Sierra Madre, CA 91024 from 11:00AM-1:00PM.
Remembered Joy
Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free!
I follow the plan God laid for me.
I saw His face, I heard His call,
I took His hand and left it all…
I could not stay another day,
To love, to laugh, to work or play;
Tasks left undone must stay that way.
And if my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss…
Ah yes, these things I, too, shall miss.
My life’s been full, I’ve savoured much:
Good times, good friends, a loved-one’s touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief—
Don’t shorten yours with undue grief.
Be not burdened with tears of sorrow,
Enjoy the sunshine of the morrow