Brian McKeon

1953 - 2025

Brian McKeon
Brian Francis McKeon was born in Roslyn, New York, August 10, 1953 to the late Francis McKeon and Mary Regan McKeon. His immediate family also included an older brother Steven and younger sister Ellen. He is survived by his wife of almost 27 years, Ellen Kirby, of Dorset, VT, daughter Caroline McKeon of New York City, and son Wallace Kirby McKeon of Salisbury, CT.
Brian spent his early years with his family in Bayside, Queens. His family moved to Manhattan when Brian was 10 and settled in the Gramercy Park area. He attended The Epiphany school for two years. There, his teacher, Sister Lydia, recognized his scholastic intelligence and had him apply to a new experimental all boys middle school, Holy Trinity, on the Upper Westside. Brian was accepted and attended Holy Trinity for two years. He went on to attend Regis High School, an academically prestigious school for boys on the Upper Eastside. At Regis, he found a passion for running, learning, and even received the Order of the Owl for Academic Excellence - an award given to the top scholars of the class. Upon his graduation in 1971, he was awarded a full scholarship to Fordham University in the Bronx. Later, Brian transferred to Hunter College in Manhattan where he could work part-time to support himself. He went on to receive his B.A. in English from Hunter.
Brian worked in Magazine Publishing from 1971 until his retirement in 2023. He got his start at National Review while attending Regis, working after school in the mailroom. After completing his undergraduate degree, he worked at McGraw Hill, New York Magazine, and Davis Publications, where he met his wife Ellen. His career continued at Condé Nast, MacDonald Communications, Brandt Publications, AMI and finally a joint venture with Condé Nast and Hearst. He was truly the G.O.A.T. of circulation business management.
Born and raised in New York City, Brian was a superfan of all New York sports and always enjoyed cheering on the Yankees, Giants, Rangers, and Knicks. He especially enjoyed being able to watch and attend games with his son Wally, the rest of his family, extended family and friends.
After doing both track and cross country at Regis, Brian's love for running stayed with him, and in 1997, he competed in and finished the New York City marathon. Rain or shine, Brian found joy in running. Even two hip replacements in his later years did not deter him - as sneaking off to go for a jog was commonplace.
Brian, Ellen, and their two children lived in Manhattan until 2003, when they moved to Darien, CT. They were members of the First Congregational Church of Darien, members of the Middlesex Club and enjoyed time at the beach. He was dedicated to his children and was always available to play their favorite games, sports, watch their favorite TV shows, and listen to their favorite music. He even made everyone's birthday cake. He prioritized whatever he could do to make his children and wife happy. In 2017 the family moved back to New York City. In early 2020 they purchased a home in Dorset, Vermont only intending to spend holidays and vacations there. The week they moved in Covid struck and they all lived in their new home together for the next 5 months. Brian never had to go back to the office until retiring.
The family enjoyed traveling together and made trips to Europe, the Caribbean, and across the U.S. It was on a special family vacation through Alaska that Brian suffered a sudden, unrecoverable heart attack. He will be missed by many friends and family, for his loyalty, wit, quiet intelligence and laugh!
Aside from his wife Ellen, and his children, Caroline and Wally, he is survived by his father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law and several nieces and nephews.
Donations in Brian's memory may be made to Regis High School.
https://www.regis.org/giving/donations?type=af
A service will be held on Saturday, August 9, 11 a.m. at the United Church of Dorset and East Rupert, 143 Church Street, Dorset, Vermont.