John T. 'Fuzzy' Keough

Waltham – Mr. John T. 'Fuzzy' Keough, of Waltham, died Friday, June 14, 2013 at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. He was 75.

John was born in Waltham on September 21, 1937, one of eleven children born to Irish natives Michael F. and Bridget E. (Crowe) Keough, and had been a lifelong resident. He attended Saint Mary's High School in Waltham where he earned his lifelong nickname, Fuzzy, and was a graduate of Waltham High School.

He served for three years with the United States Marine Corps and a year after leaving the service he married his sweetheart, Charlene J. 'Jan' deGaribody, in Saint Mary's Church on February 28, 1960.

In August, 1967 he joined the Waltham Fire Department as a firefighter; one of four Keough brothers to join the fire service. Brother Mike also served the Waltham department as a firefighter, Tom as the department's chief and youngest brother, Joe, a Wellesley lieutenant. Fuzzy retired from the fire department in December of 1992 after serving his entire career at the Lexington Street Central Station as a Ladder 1 driver.

He belonged to Local 866 of the International Association of Fire Fighters and to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge No. 953, in Waltham. After his retirement he worked with his brother Joe for many years at Saint Jude School on Main Street where they shared duties as custodians; fixers; finders and, occasionally, as nurses. Whenever the teachers, students or parents needed help with any number of things it was to the Keough brothers they turned.

In addition to his wife of fifty-three years, Jan, he leaves his son, John T. Keough, Jr. and his wife, Cheryl, of Groton; his grandchildren, Ryan and Allison Keough; his brothers, Michael F. Keough, Jr. and his wife, Beverly, Thomas M. Keough and his wife, Suzanne, all of Waltham, James J. Keough and his wife, Nadine, of Brooksville, Florida, David E. Keough and his wife, Gerri, of Falmouth and Joseph E. Keough of Natick and many nieces and nephews.

John was also a brother of the late William Keough, Kathleen Kewer, Helen Keough, Agnes Paul and Mary Canty.

Family and friends will honor and remember John's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Wednesday, June 19th, from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Jude Church, 147 Main Street, Waltham where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow in Mount Feake Cemetery, Waltham.

Memorial donations may be made to Saint Jude School, 175 Main Street, Waltham, MA 02453 or to the Waltham Firefighter's Welfare and Relief Association, 175 Lexington Street, Waltham, 02452.