Thomas P. Keelan

Thomas P. Keelan 1938 - 2009 BENNINGTON, VT Thomas P. Keelan, a Navy Veteran and former New York City resident, died on Aug. 26, 2009, at the State of Vermont Veterans Home with family at his side. The cause was complications from pneumonia. He was 71 and had resided at the Vermont Veterans Home since October 2007. Mr. Keelan retired in 2003 from 35 years of service in the security department of Roosevelt-St. Luke's Hospital in New York City and a 22 year ownership of a newspaper delivery franchise at NY-Presbyterian-Columbia Hospital. An advocate for the homeless, he helped many during his years working at St. Paul's Parish on West 59th Street. He attended New York University and Fordham University, developing a life long love of reading, especially of Irish and Russian authors and major sports writers. One of four children of Thomas Keelan and Mary Long Keelan who predeceased him, Mr. Keelan was born on Aug. 9, 1938, in Mt. Vernon, N.Y., where he attended Our Lady of Mt Carmel School and A. B. Davis High School. He enlisted in the Navy during the Cold War in 1955, receiving training at Bainbridge, Md., and Chincoteague, Va., before deploying to Navy air stations in Port Lyautey, Morocco and later Rota, Spain. He achieved the rank of 3rd Class Petty Officer and was honorably discharged in 1959. Mr. Keelan leaves his sister, Mary Keelan Shaughnessy (Edward) of Millbrook, N.Y., and Arlington, Vt.; his brother, Donald B. Keelan (Verrall) also of Arlington, Vt., his brother, Kevin F. Keelan (Elizabeth) of Charlton, N.Y.; seven nieces and nephews and 10 grand-nieces and grand-nephews; and his long time friend and companion, Tracey Glazebrook, of New York City survives. FUNERAL NOTICE: A Mass in celebration of Tom's life will take place at the Four Chaplains All Faiths Chapel at the Vermont Veterans Home in Bennington on Monday, Aug. 31, 2009 at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Armand Padula, OFM celebrating. Interment will take place at St. Patrick's Cemetery in Verplanck (Westchester), NY. There will be no calling hours. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Activities Fund at the Vermont Veterans Home through the office of the Mahar and Son Funeral Home, 628 Main St. Bennington, VT 05201. Guestbook condolences may be made at www.maharandsonfuneralhome.net.