JOHN FRANCIS KEANE

1931 - 2022

KEANE, John Francis III Age 90, of Cohasset, passed away peacefully on January 26, 2022. He was the beloved husband of the late Marilyn Teagan Keane. John was born in New York, NY, on October 11, 1931 to the late John Francis Keane, Jr., and Victoire LeCaron Keane. When John was 11 years old, his family moved out of the city to Manorville, New York, into a farm with no plumbing. From these humble beginnings, John learned the importance of hard work, education, and family. Together with Marilyn, John instilled these values in his three children and twelve grandchildren, who adoringly refer to him as GrandJohn.

Throughout his decades of professional and personal success, John had an amazing ability to connect with all, making each one feel as though they were the most important person in the room. Those who knew John well would readily refer to him as an eternal optimist, an inspiring leader, an avid competitor, and a great conversationalist. What distinguished John was how he treated people, regardless of place, circumstance, or background. His magic was in his genuine curiosity and mindful listening that raised others up. To have met him was to feel the better for it.

John was a proud graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Business School, after which he served in the U.S. Navy as a Lieutenant. After completing his naval service, John began his business career as a management consultant at Arthur D. Little. Soon, he entered the emerging technology industry and joined IBM as a salesman, where he was extraordinarily successful, but when IBM introduced its powerful System 360 architecture, John recognized an enormous market opportunity and had an itch to set out on his own. In 1965, he founded Keane Associates in a small office above a donut shop in Hingham, MA. Keane focused on helping corporations leverage the power of computer technology to solve business problems and create competitive advantage. Under his leadership, the Company grew to over $1 billion in revenue with more than 10,000 employees throughout the world. John is revered by thousands of employees and colleagues for his vision, leadership, and ability to inspire.

John and Marilyn were generous philanthropists in the Boston community, prioritizing worthy causes in education, healthcare, and the arts. They appreciated their good fortune and sought to support those who were less fortunate. John was also an avid sportsman who loved playing tennis, golf, skiing, and sailing, in which he won several national championships in the International 210.

John and Marilyn Keane always made family the top priority in life. They are survived by their three children: son John Francis Keane IV, his wife Anne-Marie and their children Jack, Brendan, Patrick, and Kaitlin, son Brian Teagan Keane, his wife Beth and their children Sarah, Alexander, and Victoire, and daughter Victoire "Vicky" LeCaron Keane Lang, her husband Ken and their children Marin, Christopher, Julia, Grace, and Claire. John is also survived by his sisters Susan Keane Trivison and Andree Keane Shields; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Due to the concerns of gathering during Covid, the family is delaying a Service and Celebration of John Keane's Life until 11 a.m. Saturday, May 21, at St. Paul's Parish at 29 Mt. Auburn Street in Cambridge. A Reception will be held nearby after the Service. More details will soon be available.