Patrick "Pat" O'Keefe

1943 - 2012

Patrick "Pat" J. O'Keefe, 69, of Viera, FL, formerly of Parsippany, NJ, died July 12, 2012, after a long battle with cancer. Pat was born March 18, 1943 to the late Owen and Mary Claire O'Keefe and raised in Jersey City where he attended St. Aedan's Grammar School and Dickinson High School.

In 1961, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served until 1964. He was employed by Bache & Co. brokerage until he joined the Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Dept. after graduating from the State Police Municipal class in 1974. Pat spent 25 years with the police dept. before retiring in 1999.

Pat is remembered by many for his heroic police actions during a 1980 hold up at the Holiday Inn where he foiled an armed robbery and saved the lives of two employees held hostage. For his courageous actions, Pat was awarded the Policeman of the Year Award and another award for valor.

Known as a fast and passionate golfer, Pat moved to Viera to enjoy his retirement playing the sport he loved.

Pat is survived by his loving wife, Maria; his son, Michael and his wife, Sandy of Summerville, SC; two grandchildren, Kyla and Owen; his sisters, Margaret, Patricia, Mary; his brother, John; and many loving nieces and nephews.

Cremation services will be private and his remains will be interred at the General Doyle National Cemetery in Wrightstown, NJ, at a later date to be announced.

You may sign Pat's guestbook at www.beckmanwilliamson.com.