Search by Name

Add a Memory

Send Flowers

Make a Donation

Share Obituary

About

Manhattan Business Academy Dartmouth College

Michael Keeshan Obituary

MICHAEL DEREK KEESHAN, 60, died suddenly on January 18, 2012 at his home in Old Greenwich, CT. He wasa beloved father to Britton and Connor, and husband to Lynn. He will be greatly missed. Michael was born in New York City on October 17, 1951 to Robert and Jeanne Keeshan. He was raised on Long Island with his sisters Laurie and Maeve. He graduated from Dartmouth College (Class of 1973) and went on to earn his MBA from the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth College (Class of 1975). There he forged many lifelong friendships and met his wife, Lynn. Michael spent over 35 years in the world of advertising and marketing. As an expert in brand strategy and corporate positioning herose to be one of the youngest Presidents and Chief Operating Officers of Saatchi & Saatchi NY and later, Chief Strategic Officer for Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide. More recently, Michael focused his career in idea-driven creative communication as a private marketing consultant. Nowhere was "Mikey"-as loved ones affectionately called him-more successful than at home. A master of the grille and story telling, he leaves behind his many friends, his sons, Britton, 30 and Connor, 25 and his wife of 37 years, Lynn. In his office sits a needlepointpillow created by his mother that reads "Oh Lord give me a bastard with talent". Michael's talent was inspiring creativity, passion and humor in everyone that he met. That gift will surely be his legacy. A service to celebrate Michael's life will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday January 21st at St. Catherine of Sienna Church in Riverside, CT. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to a fund in Michael's name at the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by GreenwichTime on Jan. 20, 2012.

Memories and Condolences
for Michael Keeshan

32 Entries

January 14, 2021

It’s been 9 years since Michael passed but when I got the email on the anniversary of this I just wanted to write again and say Michael was such a great friend to me thru school and LIYC in Babylon - I pray that you all are doing well and the whole Nicholas family loved him. Plus we had our Jets bond!
Connie Nicholas Carberg

February 10, 2012

dear lynn, megene and i are so sad to hear about michael.we both knew him at loyola rome and we loved him. we wanted to share a story with you. michael arranged two major trips for kids at the school, and the travel agent gave him a free stay at a resort in heraclean greece on the island of crete. michael asked megene and i to meet him there. the resort wasn't exactly finished and a lot of the staff were in training. we all shared one room and we had the same greek waiter in the morning for breakfast in the room. so michael had the idea of switching us around in the bed. one morning megene and peter one morning megene and michael and finally michael and peter. that waiter probably still tells friends aoubt the crazy american swappers. the trip was unforgettable. we rented a volkswagon beatle and crossed the island on roads that were almost unpassable. on the other side the beaches had black sand and the people acted like they had never seen an outsider before. michael as always had his camera and took a bunch of pictures. the people all wanted to be photographed. he was a great talent in school with the yearbook his pictures and his painting. we will always remember him fondly, thinking of you peter and megene forker

Patricia Voorhies-Schneider

February 1, 2012

I was so sorry to hear of Michael's death. I knew Michael back in elementary school and summers at the LIYC on Long Island - swimming, sailing lessons, bridge. Michael was the ring leader of the gang. Just last night I was speaking of him with another friend from elementary school - Michael will always be remembered for a great kindness after my father died. I kept meaning to contact him, but things always interfered. My prayers are with you.

Ken Habel

January 31, 2012

To The Family:

Please accept my deepest sympathy on your loss. I attended Loyola of Rome with Mike and he will always be remembered fondly.

Peter Mitchell

January 30, 2012

I will always credit Michael as the person who gave me my shot in the agency business 30 years ago. He arrived on the Dartmouth campus on a recruiting trip and essentially took over the lunch hall with his signature showmanship, convincing all of us MBA types to bag brand management and come to the agency side. Six months later, I began my career at Dancer Fitzgerald Sample in NYC. My thanks and gratefulness go out to Michael and the Keeshan family.

Judy & Tim McAuliff

January 23, 2012

Dear Lynn, Britton, and Connor,
I was so saddened to hear about Michael's sudden passing. We will all miss his quick wit; his undying passion for his precious Mets and Jets; and his well thought out opinions on a myriad of topics. The latter so often offered without much prodding.
It was always a delight to be in his presence.
We will keep all of you in our thoughts and prayers.

January 23, 2012

Dear Lynn, Britton, Connor:

I am so sorry for your loss. As a former DFSer and colleague of Michael's, I vividly remember meetings where he would toss out hysterically funny one-liners, followed by long, elegantly flowing sentences filled with remarkably astute strategic insights.

Then, after we had both left Mother Saatchi, and would run into each other at annual ANA conferences, we'd share observations at the breaks, and he'd always make a point of introducing me to people he thought I should know. What a mensch. Michael will be missed.

May you always cherish all the wonderful memories you must have.

Warm regards,

Richard Holt

Kevin & Casey Keeshan

January 23, 2012

We are so saddened by your loss. We were looking forward to seeing all of you when we moved. May you find comfort in family and friends. God Bless.

Kathy Fallon

January 22, 2012

blessings to all the Keeshans. my heart breaks for your loss , and celebrates the life of a man who touched so many of us. may your grief be softened by the comfort you receive in this time. much love from one of the childhood friends whose life he graced.

Perry Gaa

January 22, 2012

To the Keeshan Family, I am so sorry for your loss. I'm going to miss Michael. I did business with him at Dancer and Saatchi and respected him so much. He was so generous with his time and supportive of me throughout my career. He was so proud of his boys and his wife Lynn. I am heartbroken.

Connie Carberg

January 22, 2012

To the Keeshan Family,
I just read the news on Michael and am heartbroken for you all. My family (Nicholas) grew up with him and we all went to our beloved Jet games and Yacht Club! Such a special person and will be missed. May God give you strength during this time and my prayers to all of you.

Josephine Trapani

January 22, 2012

To the KEESHAN family i am so sorry for your loss, may he R.I.P and for the family to find comfort on this difficult time god bless

Maggie (Kohler) Walsh

January 22, 2012

I am sorry for this loss. He was a very special person and friend. Reconnecting over the last few years through email meant alot to me. He was always kind and thoughtful. As a child I was in a group with him called the 4 1/2. He was the 1/2 with 4 tall girls and what a half he was! A toast to a life well lived. Special condolences to you all. He will remain in our hearts.

Marie McNeely

January 22, 2012

Lynn, Britton and Connor,

I had the great pleasure of working with Michael. I still remember enjoying a gracious dinner at your home, Lynn.

Michael was a force of nature, to be sure.
He inspired so many of us in the ad world to do our best thinking. But, I will remember him most for how often he kept it clear that it was best to lead in an atmosphere of lightness and laughter.

My heart hurts for all of you during this difficult time.

January 22, 2012

I am so sorry and sad for your loss. Although so long ago, I will remember Michael as a fun, funny, and simply wonderful human being - just one of the best. My deepest condolences to you all. Bonnie (Cohen) Berk

January 21, 2012

To the Keeshan family,

I am so sorry for your loss. I knew Michael in the very early days--we were both members of a folk singing group called the 4 1/2. I recently reconnected with him via Facebook over the past year or so--I enjoyed his wit and the way he looked at life. Please accept my condolences,
Cathy (Farrell) Cathey

January 21, 2012

I am so sorry and sad about Michael's sudden passing. May he rest in peace and may his family find comfort in the knowledge that he touched so many people. Sincere condolences from a Loyola-Rome classmate and friend...Barbara Maggio Pauley

Michael Daly

January 21, 2012

To the Keeshan family,
My condolences for you loss. Although it was a long time ago, I well remember Mike at the center of a great deal of fun at Loyola Rome Center. Requeim in pacem.

January 21, 2012

Lynn,

I was so shocked and saddened to hear the news. You and your sons will be in my prayers over the coming days.

My sincere condolences,
Gail (Hegarty) Fell

Fred Massin

January 20, 2012

To the Keeshan family,
I worked with Michael at Saatchi. He was one of the smartest, most engaging human beings I have ever met.
Please accept my condolences.

Marta & Pat O'Rourke

January 20, 2012

To the Keeshan Family
We have wonderful memories of Mike from our year together at Loyola of Rome.He was a very good friend and we will miss him.
Please accept our condolences on your loss.

John and Nancy Bello

January 20, 2012

Lynn

Nancy and I loved Roo...we will all miss his charm, wit, intensity and sensitivity. I will never forget him hanging out of the window at Woodruff Hall at Tuck lo those many years ago...a good position for an Edward Tuck Scholar and giant in the advertising business. We are in AZ but our thoughts will be with you tomorrow. Go Jets!

Sandy and Sally Cutler

January 20, 2012

Dear Lynn, Britton and Connor,
We were so saddened to hear of your loss. Michael was a very special person and his passing is an enormous loss to all of us who were fortunate to know him. Please accept our condolences.

January 20, 2012

To the Keeshan Family,
I was a old friend of your father, Mike. We went to school together in Rome when we were in college. Mike and I, along with Justin McCarthy, traveled to Barcelona together and got to know each other quite well. We reconnected a few years ago on Linkedin. There is nothing that I can say to you to make this loss any easier on all of you. I just wanted to express may personal sadness and condolences to you.
Kevin O'Donnell
Dallas, Texas

Gino

January 20, 2012

To our fallen Loyola Camper,
God bless your family.
You will always be in our thought, memories and heart.

Ryan Roelle

January 20, 2012

Dear Lynn, Britton, and Connor. I am so sorry for your loss. I am thinking about you all and praying for you during this tough time. Love Ryan (McAuliff) Roelle

Caren and Lou Gagliano

January 20, 2012

Lynn - Lou & I are deeply saddened at Michael's passing and the great loss you and your sons have suffered. Wish we could be at the service but are traveling. Our thoughts are with you and your family.

Ritu Sharma

January 20, 2012

To the Keeshan Family, I am very saddened to hear this news. I have had the pleasure of Connor Keeshan being part of my team at TBWA\. While I hadn't the honor of meeting Michael, knowing the tremendous man that Connor is, I know this is his father's influence. Sincerely, Ritu Sharma

January 20, 2012

Dear Lynn,

Our heart goes out to you and your boys. You are all in my prayers. Much love,
Liz and Arthur Lichtenberger

Bill Kelly

January 20, 2012

Lynn, my thoughts are with you and your family.

Marlane Wurzbach

January 20, 2012

Dear Lynn, Britton and Connor, Allen and I were shocked and saddened to learn of your loss. Michael will be remembered, along with the rest of your family, as the best neighbor we ever had. Please accept our sincere condolences and love.

Margi Ranieri

January 20, 2012

Dear Lynn, Britton and Connor,

I am so sorry for your loss. It was shocking to hear of Michael's passing. May God's love sustain you now through this difficult time. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Showing 1 - 32 of 32 results