James J. Keeler, D.P.A., of South Abington Township, passed away at home Thursday morning, August 21, 2025, two days after his 80th birthday. He and his wife, Elaine O’Malley Keeler, celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary in November.
He was born August 19, 1945, in Scranton, the son of Mildred Lynch Keeler and John J. Keeler. He was raised in the notch and was an altar boy at Holy Rosary Parish.
In 1957, at the age of 12, he threw a no-hitter for Comerford Theater at the North Scranton Little League.
He graduated from Holy Rosary High School in 1963 and was co-captain of the baseball team. He was a graduate of Keystone Junior College where he received the A.L. Mathias Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award in 1966, West Chester University (Bachelor in Political Science), University of Villanova (Master of Political Science), University of Maryland (Master of Public Administration), and University of Southern California (Doctor of Public Administration).
Following serving as the Youth Coordinator for Robert P. Casey for Auditor General in 1966, he was employed as Administrative Assistant to Robert P. Casey, Auditor General of Pennsylvania. In 1971, he joined the Social Security Administration in Baltimore, Maryland as a Legislative Analyst and served on the task force that implemented the Supplemental Security Income, SSI, program. He also worked on Capitol Hill at the Congressional Research Service.
In 1976, he returned to Scranton as Field Representative for the Social Security Administration and was employed with Social Security for over 45 years. In 1991, he was recognized by the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services with a national honor for his innovative outreach program which found over 200 low income aged and disabled Lackawanna County residents eligible for the SSI program. He was also an adjunct professor in government and public policy at Marywood University and the University of Scranton.
Jim was the President of Northeastern Pennsylvania Pro Baseball, Inc. which conducted a feasibility study of minor league baseball in Northeastern Pennsylvania. He was the Founding Chairman of the Lackawanna County Multipurpose Stadium Authority and led its purchase of a AAA franchise. He was extremely proud of the fact that the Lackawanna County Stadium Authority was publicly owned and successfully paid for itself, generating income for over two decades and stimulating our local economy. He is the author of the book Our Team, Insights from the Publicly Owned Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons.
He was a patient and loving husband, father, brother, uncle, cousin and friend and a devout Catholic. He enjoyed family, politics, boating, and baseball. He was known for his kindness.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children: Jimmy Keeler, Ellen Keeler Moore (Dan) and Paul Keeler (Lynn), all of South Abington Township; 9 grandchildren: Clover and Seamus Keeler, Ashlyn, Nolan, and Callahan Moore, and Molly, Grace, Patrick and Jack Keeler; his sister Catherine Nealon (Jack); cousin John Keeler (Ann); and nieces, nephews, and cousins and friends.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister Nancy Kearney and husband Tom, and parents-in-law Lorraine Caisse O’Malley and Robert O’Malley.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday at 9:30 AM at Holy Rosary Church, 316 Williams Street, Scranton. Interment to follow at Cathedral Cemetery. Friends may call at the Lawrence E. Young Funeral Home, 418 S. State Street, Clarks Summit, Sunday 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM and Monday 3:30 PM to 7:00 PM.
His family would like to thank Arun Pruthusseril, M.D., for his exceptional care, and Jim’s care team: Kim Konarzewski, Addy Hernandez, and Katie Morris, R.N.
Read More
