Daniel H. Keohane

Daniel Hickey Keohane, age 91, of Natick, MA, formerly of Arlington, MA and Rochester, NY, died on Thanksgiving Day after a long and wonderful life. Fortunate husband of Suzanne Alice Fitzpatrick formerly of Medway, MA, who preceded him in death. Loving father of Daniel F. of Natick, James H. and Neil J. (Margaret) of Centennial, CO, Timothy C. (Laura) of Portland, ME, and Kathryn A. Keohane (Richy Glassberg) of Greenwich, CT. Beloved grandfather to James, Riley, Timothy, Emma, Ryan, Hannah, and Liam Keohane, and Caleb and River Glassberg. Also survived by treasured sister Maureen K. Riley (Richard) of Winchester, MA, and many cherished nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by brothers Cornelius J., Thomas F., Robert P., and Harold J. (Hank). Son of the late Cornelius Joseph and Hannah Hickey Keohane of Arlington, MA and County Cork, Ireland.

Educated by the Sisters of St. Joseph at St. Agnes School, graduate of Arlington High School, Franklin Technical Institute, and Boston University School of Education, class of 1957. During the Korean War, he served in the Air Force as a Flight Engineer/Gunner on the Douglas B-26 Invader. He flew 55 missions, most at night, over North Korea during the winter of 1951/52. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, and the US Army Good Conduct Medal. Dan achieved the rank of Technical Sergeant (E-6) in just 3 years of service and declined an officer's commission. After attending Boston University on the G.I. Bill, he taught general science at the John Marshall Jr/Sr High School in Rochester in 1959 and 1960. He remained proud of his membership on the Board of Directors of the Rochester Teacher's Association and as an organizer and literature distribution chairman for the AFL/CIO American Federation of Teachers in Rochester. After leaving teaching, Dan spent a year at MIT's Lincoln Laboratory at Hanscom Field in Bedford MA, engaged in data reduction and status reporting on the Trailblazer Missile Project at Wallops Island, VA, the earliest studies of re-entry vehicle dynamics, a foundational step in space exploration. As his family grew, Dan went to work for the Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Company and its successors for 28 years. After retiring from Honeywell and a few years as a bank courier, Dan began volunteering for Metro West Harvest "moving food from where it was to where it wasn't." Known as 'Dan the Bread Man', he delivered countless tons of goods to shelters and food banks all over the Metro West region and into Boston, well into his late 70s. He was outspoken in praise and appreciation of Roche Brothers of Natick for their outstanding generosity over the years.

Mr. Keohane served as a Natick Town Meeting Member for six years with perfect attendance, and spoke with pride about working for wetlands zoning, the Natick Town Bus, and on the Charter Commission which brought quality government to Natick. He worked in some capacity in every local, state, and federal election into his 80's, and helped to elect Erica Ball, the first woman on Natick's Board of Selectmen. From letters to the Editor to letters to the White house, he advocated for important causes throughout his life, and was determined to live long enough to help elect Joe Biden president and see him sworn into office. His many years of commitment to Natick, Town Meeting, and Metro West Harvest resulted in Dan's selection as Natick's "Senior Man of the Year" in 2005, an honor he treasured. Ever a faithful man, he was a member of the St. James Parish Religious Education Commission in Wellesley MA, teaching pre-confirmation CCD classes in his home and leading Evenings for Parents at the Church with his wife Suzanne. Dan and Suzanne were also early supporters of Voice of the Faithful at St. John the Evangelist in Wellesley.

On life and living, he advised: Pick a great wife, mother, and teacher like Suzanne, and be blessed with five outstanding children, and then, try like hell to follow the Mark Twain dictum that Harry Truman kept on his desk, "Always do good. It will please most of the people and astonish the rest."

In lieu of flowers, donations in Daniel's name may be made to Metro West Harvest, 300 Howard St, Framingham, MA 01702 or to your local food bank: www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank.

Family and friends will gather at the Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main St., Waltham, MA, Friday, December 10th, 4-7pm, with an informal service at 6pm. Interment will be on Saturday afternoon, at 1 p.m., in the Fitzpatrick Family Plot at St. Joseph's Cemetery, 59 Oakland St., Medway, MA, 02053.