Name: Visitation for Brian W. O'Keefe
Start: 2017-06-25T19:00:00.000Z
End: 2017-06-25T22:00:00.000Z
Location: O'Neill-Hayes Funeral Home - Newport

Brian W. O'Keefe, 76, of Newport, RI, husband of 51 years to Kathryn (Mooney) O'Keefe, died peacefully on Wednesday, June 21, at Rhode Island Hospital of complications related to a stroke. He will be dearly missed. Brian was born in Salem, MA to Margaret and William O'Keefe, and spent his childhood in Salem and in Canada. He graduated from Providence College in 1962. He was a decorated war veteran who served in the Marines from 1963 to 1966. He was a Marine Corp Captain in Vietnam in 1965, where he took part in Operation Starlite, the first major offensive of the war. He was deeply proud to be a Marine and strived to embody the Marine Corp's values of honor, courage and commitment in all aspects of his life. Brian found his calling as an FBI agent in 1967. He worked in Iowa and Oregon - where he lived with his family for 14 years - before relocating to Hartford, CT, in 1982. He served as Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of the Hartford Resident Agency, New Haven Field Office, from 1987 until his retirement in 1990. Throughout his career he formed a great number of enduring friendships with fellow agents. He and his family lived in Simsbury, CT, for 22 years, before he and Kathy relocated to Newport. Following his time in the FBI, Brian spent 15 years in charge of investigative services at United Technologies Corporation, a post that allowed him to travel the world. Brian was a lifelong sports enthusiast and a committed runner. He was an avid reader, particularly of history, and loved dogs, with a special fondness for golden retrievers. In his retirement, he enjoyed volunteering at the Museum of Yachting and in serving on Newport's Waterfront Commission. In recent years, he took great joy in being a grandfather, and was a fixture on the sidelines of his grandkids' sporting events. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter, Colleen O'Keefe, of Newington, CT; his son, Jeffrey O'Keefe, and daughter-in-law Shira O'Keefe, of Los Angeles, CA; his daughter, Meghan Galli, and son-in-law Jaeson Galli, of San Diego, CA; his grandchildren Peyton, Reid and Shea Galli and Owen O'Keefe; his brother, Kevin O'Keefe, and sister-in-law Cate O'Keefe, of Silver Spring, MD; as well as numerous cousins, brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews. Brian was predeceased by his sister, Nancy Bolick, of Newburyport, MA. Visiting hours will be held for Brian on Sunday, June 25th, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m at the O'Neill-Hayes Funeral Home, 465 Spring Street, Newport, RI. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, June 26th, at 10 am at St. Mary's Church, 12 William Street, Newport, RI, 02840. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Brian's memory to the Alzheimer's Association. To give, please visit www.alz.org. For more information, please visit oneillhayes.com.

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

Published by Hartford Courant on Jun. 24, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for Brian O'Keefe

Sponsored by the family.

18 Entries

Colleen O'Keefe

June 21, 2024

June 21st,2024
Friday

Today is the 7th year anniversary of my
Dad's death.

Today,7 yrs ago,
we were all just trying to absorb the sad sad fact that such a wonderful person was not with us anymore.
It was a sad time.
Thank you to all you wonderful people who continue to think about Dad with pleasure, walking through old memories and lingering in them.
Please keep doing so
When someone is so very loved,and so very
very missed,it's perfectly OK and comforting to continue to reminisce about happier times,
to reflect on,and to appreciate,the many good qualities that
someone had and shared with others.
It keeps that person alive in our hearts.
So please keep sharing the memories and stories about my dad,
and he made a deep impact on your life.
Thank you.
Today,later this on morning,my mom,
my sister Meghan and her two daughters,and me,Colleen, and maybe Claire Galli will go and visit my dad's grave.
Like what has become the custom,we will bring to the grave a bouquet of red roses from the rosebush my dad planted shortly before he died. He never had the pleasure of seeing
it grow and bloom into the the beautiful healthy plant that it's now become.Every year around this time,
those roses seem to be at their peak bursting with color. As if those roses know that they want to look their ultimate best because they know,that on
June 21st,some of them will be going to my Dad's grave in the form of a bouquet.
My Dad was the best.
I talk about him all the time,I'm always telling people about him.
That's the only right thing to do when you have many good memories of someone
not only you,but also others love and miss very much.
That way he is still alive in our hearts and memories.
So go ahead.
On this day,
June 21st,2024,
the 7th yr anniversary
of my Dad's death,
go ahead...
Please remember my dad and share stories about him.
And if you want to..
and are a close friend of
my Dad's,and of our family, Please get in contact with my mom,and share such memories with my mom.It will be nice to hear them.
So go ahead,
as you go about your day today,please ponder abs reflect back in thise amazing memories you hav o
of my dad.Relive by sharing them with others,please keep him your hearts.
Go ahead with the
"Do you remember when he did this or that?"s.
My dad loved golden
retrievers,
He loved sailing.
He like to jog,to be outside.
He loved history and
the ocean
so Newport, RI,
a city rich in American history, was the perfect place to lived for him and my mom.
My Dad loved being
a FBI agent, as well as
being a Marine.
And my dad loved
his family.
Which included three
children,~
Colleen
Jeff
(his wife Shira
and son Owen),
and
Meghan.
(and husband Jaeson,
and children
Peyton,Reid,and Shea)
and the dogs-
Ollie
Sandy
Sam
and lastly,Sligo.
My dad enjoyed life,
and taught us very many valuable lessons.
Sych as the very importance of showing gratutude through handwritten thank you
notes,and the importance and pleasure of reading books.
The local library and bookstores were staples in our house.

My dad was the Best.
He was brilliantly smart,and was a very good hearted person.

He is missed quite a bit.

He was a great dad..

God has promised that
in the coming future,
"The last enemy,
(to every human who has lived,and is living),
Death,is to be brought
to nothing."
-1 Corinthians 15:26
And
"Death will be no more".
-Revelation 21:4

Then,here on Earth,
there will be a wonderful comforting reality of those sleeping in death being woken up to perfect health and a very happy life with n
no ending!
This is goung to hapoen because it is a promise from God himself.
How comforting!
Please,may this bring peace to you today on this 7th yr anniversary of my Dad's death.

Written by Colleen O'Keefe

Bruce Shirk

June 18, 2024

I continue to find myself thinking of Brian, specifically when he was my boss at Cherry Point in Wing G-2 and afterwards when he was with the Bureau and we´d attend the FBI Marine Corps Association gatherings at Ft Stewart in Poughkeepsie. Still miss the guy.

Brian's daughter Colleen

March 2, 2024

I miss my dad.
Alot.

Written on Sat.,3/2/2024

Bruce Shirk

June 18, 2023

I think of Brian often and miss his wry, knowing smile. Brian was my boss in the Marines and a good one and a great friend. Bruce Shirk

Colleen O'Keefe

September 23, 2022

Hi,
My name is Colleen O'Keefe.
I'm the oldest of Brian and Kathy O'Keefe's three children.
Here are things I learned from my Dad growing up:

Always be punctual and
on time.

Always be polite and act in accord with proper and acceptable etiquette.

Always Always Always read
a book,magazine,
the newspaper.
Something.
Always read and learn things.

Always help people.

Always be honest.

Always Always take the time to write handwritten personal
thank you notes after receiving a gift or an act of kindness from someone
else.

Always show gratitude by a thank you note,
or a small gift,
Whether that be money,
a gift card.
Or homemade cookies.

Always have a good time at
dinner parties.
Always have dinner parties.

Go out to eat alot.

Always make quality time for your family.

Always love and be kind to animals,
especially dogs,
and especially
golden retrievers.

Always be outside.

Always Always dress well and look good and presentable when going out in
public for
any reason.

Always have some ice cream sandwiches in the house for dessert.

Always make alot of good friends,
And be a good close friend to your good friends.

Always work hard.

Always be informed about what's going on in the news.

Always enjoy being outside
in nature,
no matter what the season.

Always go for walks or
bike rides after dinner.

Always make quality time
for your children,
love your children.
Like my dad did towards us.

Always have a very strong sense of justice,
of right and wrong.

Always be the first to start making the coffee in the morning.

Always be active and busy.

Always love people.

When shopping,
go for the quality made products,
not the cheapy made products.

Love to tell stories and tell jokes.

Always be good and kind to your mother-in-law,
like how my dad spoiled
my gramma.

Love anything to do with the ocean and beach.

Own and use a boat or canoe.

Stop on the way home from work,and buy a bottle of
ginger ale for your sick kid.

Always have a kind heart.

Always be brave.

Always be very very smart,
and keenly observant and discerning.

Love to grill outside.

Teach good morals to your kids by word and example.

Bring your kids to work when possible.

Love music.

Be kind to your family.
Love your family.
Keep in touch with family that lives away from you.

Invite people over all the time,
and accept their invitations.

Love sports,
especially the summer sports.

Respect people.

Be generous.

Be there for others.

Speak well of others.

Read in bed.

Believe and have faith in God.

Always be modest.

Always travel to other countries and see new things.

Go bike riding,
take long walks,
go swimming at the local pool,
Go skiing.
Always enjoy being outside and getting exercise.

Always take good care of
your yard.

Always have a garden and grow your own food.

Be silly with your kids.

Always tuck your kids in at night as you say
"Night night,don't let the bedbugs bite."

Be there to have dinner together at the table as a family.

Always remember people and miss them when they die.
Like I miss and remember
my dad.
5 years
3 months
and two days
it's been since my dad fell asleep in death.
I love my dad.
Soon,very soon now,
"Death will be no more"
(Revelation 21:4)
and
Jehovah God will "swallow up
death forever "
(Isaiah 25:8),
then at that time,
"death will be brought to nothing"
(1Corinthians 15:26).
Then no one will ever feel the sharp pain of sadness when someone dies
because as
Jesus demonstrated time and again,
the dead will be brought back to life and happily reunited with us again
forever!

Written by Colleen O'Keefe
Brian's oldest daughter on
9/23/2022.

Colleen O'Keefe

June 28, 2021

Hi,-
My name is
Colleen O'Keefe.
I'm the oldest of Brian and Kathy O'Keefe's three children.
Monday,6/21st/2021
was the 4th year anniversary of my Dad's death.
And I miss him alot.
So does my mom
of course,and anybody else who had the enjoyable privilege of getting to know my Dad.
Whether that was through getting to know him as a very good close friend,
neighbor,fellow international traveler
fellow FBI agent,
fellow Marine,or
as a local volunteer down at
Fort Adams located
at Newport,R.I...
whatever part it was,
people are always saying that they liked my dad,and share their memories of him.
He is missed by many many people.
Monday,June 21st
was the 4 year anniversary of my Dad's death.
Wow! 4 years already!
It doesn't seem that long, it seems like that horrible situation happened more recently than that!
I can still remember every detail of that messy week.
However, the good memories of my Dad overshadow any of the bad memories nobody wants to think about anymore.
Thank goodness!
Thankfully,too,
that the Covid 19 virus that ravaged the entire globe last year has been brought under control somewhat by means of various vaccines,allowing for
Mom and me to go visit Dad's grave this year on the anniversary date,
Monday,June 21st.
It was a sunny day with alittle breeze going through.
Mom and I went out for breakfast,after she went golfing,
then we went to Dad's grave,bringing with us a rose from the rosebush that my dad had planted shortly before he died.
He never got to see it blossom,but this year he would've been happy to know that that rosebush is very healthy,very colorful,and thriving!Mom and I scattered the rose petals over the grave marker,and stayed there for a bit remembering Dad before we left.
We came back on the next day,so I was able to get to his grave twice in one weekend.
Before we left for the grave the second time, a very good close friend
and fellow FBI agent,
of Dad's,Mike Walsh,
called to remember Dad. He shared with me what a good funny friend Dad was,and also shared of some FBI situations where my Dad showed courage and bravery while pursuing and catching the dangerous wanted criminals.
In every day life,
while growing up,
I remember my Dad being honest,funny,
a hard worker,and he was always there for us,making the time to spend time with us his children,-
taking us skiing up in the Oregon Mountains,biking after dinner,
or just swimming with us down at the local community pool.
My Dad loved dogs very much.
My Dad was a very good kind person.
He was respectful towards everyone.
He loved people,and enjoyed sharing stories over a good meal with family and friends.
My Dad,along with my Mom,loved to travel to popular
international destinations.
A week before he died, they both had returned from a trip to Ireland.
My Dad was an extremely observant
analytical person,
a very smart person,
and he thoroughly enjoyed reading and learning.
There was always either a magazine,
novel,or newspaper in his hands always.
He was also was
a fun grandpa to his 4 grandchildren.
My Dad is missed by so many people.
He is for sure a permanent fixture in many good various memories that were made over the years and decades.
Though my Dad is alive in everyone's heart and mind..
Most Importantly,
My dad is also in God's heart and mind.
Jehovah..
(God's personal name as found in the Bible-
Psalms 83:18),
Jehovah himself also has good memories of Dad that he enjoys remembering.
And being in God's memory is the safest and best place to be for someone who dies.
Jehovah can,and does,look for the good in a person,and fondly remembers it.
Just like we remember the good a person has done in their life,like
with Dad!
And soon,the appointment time will come when Jehovah God will wake up Dad from the deep sleep-like state that the dead are in,and
will happily welcome Dad back alive to
an Earth free of injustice,Covid 19,
and death!
Death with be then emptied and be
"no more" ever again!
(Revelation 21:4)
Dad and others that die will come back to life as happy healthy people ready to be reunited with us here on the Earth again!
Wow! Imagine the time!
It's a beautiful hope that is going to happen on this earth soon!
What a happy beautiful thought that is!
My Dad was a wonderful,kind,
incredible funny person!
I had the Best Dad Ever!
I miss him,and look forward to giving him a hug again!
Meanwhile, good fun memories are keeping me and all who had the privilege of knowing my Dad going.
My Dad liked coffee ice cream, so maybe today could be a
coffee ice cream day in his honor!
Thank you for being a kind friend to my Dad !
Colleen O'Keefe
Brian's oldest daughter
-written on 6/27/2021

Bruce Shirk

July 23, 2020

Remembering Brian this morning and recalling how he would sometimes respond to a question by cocking his head, smiling and then saying “You don’t know, do you?” We sure don’t know these days, do we? I miss Brian. Bruce Shirk

Colleen O'Keefe

July 22, 2020

Wednesday,July 23rd,2020

Hi.
My name is Colleen O'Keefe.
I'm the oldest of the three children that Brian and Kathy O'Keefe have.
I just want to say that my amazing,wonderful Dad was truly a very,very kind person,always!
He loved people,and loved to be kind to people.
My Dad enjoyed helping people,
my Dad was a very generous person,
my Dad always dressed nicely-
no matter what,
my Dad was respectable of others,
my Dad was a good and kind man.
My Dad enjoyed running, biking,skiing,swimming,fishing,
and playing sports.
My Dad was a kind man.
My Dad enjoyed volunteering,
and helping others.
My Dad loved to read,as is evident by the plethora of novels and history books still in the house.
My Dad was a good man.
My Dad absolutely was a friend to almost any dog he had and/or met.
My Dad loved Newport,R.I.,and any other part of Rhode Island,including Block Island.
My Dad was incredible,amazing,
and,like I always told him,
very smart.
It was an enjoyable privilege to have him as my Dad.
My Dad was a kind man,and a very helpful,loving Dad.
I loved my Dad,and still do.
My childhood was fun because of him.
❤Colleen O'Keefe

Brian's Oldest Daughter~Colleen O'Keefe

June 26, 2020

Sunday,June 21st,2020

Dear Dad,
Good Morning.
This is me,Colleen,
your oldest child.
Today is the third year anniversary of your death.
And I miss you very much,
and I love you very much.
So does everybody else,Dad.
You are not forgotten at all.
Ever.
There are many happy memories left behind with you in them,
many,Dad.
I take comfort and hope in what Jesus believed and taught about the condition of the dead,and this is what he taught:
That those who die are in a sleep-like state,conscience of neither the passing of time,nor of
the things happening outside around them.
(Ecclesiates 9:5;Luke 8:40-56;and
John 11:11-14).
They're just sleeping in death until a future time when Jesus wakes them up to an enjoyable life on earth again.
This fact has already happened in the past,as recorded in the Bible for our encouragement in the future resurrection.
It will happen again.
And that gives me comfort and hope,Dad,it reassures me that presently you are not in pain or suffering in any way.
You are conscience of nothing
at all,at the moment peacefully sleeping in death,and
very safe and very cherished in God's memory,
which is the safest place to be when you're dead,until the time when God and Jesus gently and lovingly wake you up. Just like you used to wake me up,Dad.
So,I say these things because,
although knowing full well that you are unable currently to read this( in accordance with how Jesus defined death),..
I'm going to write to you as though you are alive,because in so many very good memories that are still so enjoyable,.
In those memories,you are alive.
You were for sure THE BEST DAD EVER!
And Thank-you,Dad.
I apologize that I can't come and visit your grave today,Dad.
Mom and I have made a special point of doing that for the last two anniversary dates of your death,but we can't today.
I'm sorry,I really wanted to.
I planned for the trip and everything.
But.see..the entire planet,
and almost every country and continent on it is in crisis mode due to Covid 19,and as result,
people are being told to basically stay away from each other until it goes away.
Which might be awhile.
The elderly,of which Mom is one,especially have to be very,
very cautious about protecting their health right now.
What is Covid 19?
It is a new,very dangerous and fatal disease that has come out of nowhere within the last few months,and is continuing to spread rapidly on a huge global scale,killing millions of people in it's path. It's very dangerous.
People are now going around in public wearing surgical masks and gloves as they go grocery shopping and so forth,Dad,as a way of protecting themselves and others from the disease.
Everyone looks silly,and no one necessarily likes doing it,but it does prevent people from dying. And,yes,Dad,I do make sure that I'm careful to wear a mask when
I do my shopping,too.
With everything going on,
Mom and I agreed that maybe now would not be a good time for me to come to Newport to visit your grave because Mom is nervous that I unknowingly might bring the Covid 19 virus into the house,and that would be bad.
The family doesn't need Mom getting sick,again.
Was Mom sick?
Yes,Dad,yes she was.
But not with this disease.
Mom had a little stroke last year,
one just bad enough to shake things up a bit.However,she is doing great now,Dad. You would be so happy to know that!
She is going golfing and everything, she is doing great!
She misses you dearly,but she is keeping busy as usual.
With the world being such a mess, It's reassuring to think about the Earth's future,
when there will be no more death or any sickness of any kind,
"The last enemy,death,is to be brought to nothing."
( 1 Corinthians 15:26);
"And no resident will say:
'I am sick.' "
( Isaiah 33:24).
In the near future,the Earth will become a radiant,refreshing beautiful global paradise garden,
one with no stress at all!
This is the kind of world that you are going to open up your beautiful blue eyes to,Dad.
It's going to be just the opposite of the horrible conditions than what we see on earth today.
How encouraging and hopeful
that is to even imagine,right,Dad?
I told you when you were dying,Dad, that God never forgets a good person,and you were a good person,Dad,the Best!
God is not going to forget to wake you up from sleeping in death,
He continues to remember your many good qualities,and
God loves every one of them!
For example,Jehovah took notice every time you extended generous kindnesses to someone else,no matter how big or small it was.And Jehovah no doubt smiled when He saw you thoroughly enjoy the dogs that were always part of the family.
Thank-you,Dad,for you and Mom taking me and Jeff and Meghan skiing,canoeing,going to the beautiful Oregon beaches and green Oregon mountains many times;
Thank-you for taking us on family walks,out for dinner,on family trips,
Thank-you for taking us out on the boat into the middle of the Newport,R.I.Harbor,
Thank-you for encouraging us to be outside all the time,Dad..
no doubt that is why I love being outdoors now.
Thank-you for teaching me how to ride a bike,Dad!
Thank-you for instilling in your children a very very strong love for reading books,for doing good and extending kindnesses towards others,and for,of course,
Thank-you for sharing and instilling in me,and Jeff and Meghan your very strong love for dogs!
Meghan now has two dogs,and Jeff still has his one dog.
Thank-you,Dad,for so many other endless good things,and
thank-you for your very many good qualities,such as your love for people!
Thank-you,Dad!
In the Bible book of Job,
at Job 14:14, Job pondered the question:
"If a man dies,can he live again?",
the very next verse gives the answer:
"You(Jehovah God) will call,
and I (Job,and anyone else is who sleeping in death) will answer you.
You will yearn for the work of your hands."
Isn't that comforting,Dad?
Very soon you will answer the call to wake up from death,and you will enjoy a fresh brand new world;and you will be happy and healthy,and be reunited with
me and the family and your friends again and everybody else!
I even thought that, at that time,
you and I could build a boat together,then sail down the various clean rivers that will be there on that future earth.
And Mom can make your favorite tunafish sandwiches for lunch!
It's a hopeful and wonderful thought to get through now.
I love you,Dad.
I miss you very much,Dad.
Mom misses you,Dad.
Everyone misses you,Dad.
Everyone.
You were truly a really really good,honest,hard working,kind man,and The Best Dad Ever!
Your'e going to be reunited with everybody soon,Dad.
In the meantime,I'm going to try harder to keep encouraging the family with comforting thoughts like the ones mentioned above,
and I'm going to continue to try to keep busy until we can see and talk to each other again!
That day is going to be so incredible and beautiful!
I apologize for not being able to come and visit your grave today,
on the anniversary of your death.
Due to the global Covid 19 disease,things this year are beyond my control.
Sorry.
But I take comfort and hope in the future reality that soon there will not be any need to go visit a grave because there won't be any graves to mark a death with,since,on that future beautiful earth, there will never again be any death,Dad. Only happy fun things! And that is a sure promise,Dad!(Revelation 21:4) Yay!
I miss you,and I think about you all the time.
Thank-you for everything,
you were an incredible Dad,
and I look forward to actually giving you a big hug,and welcoming you back in the future paradise global garden!
I love you,Dad!
I miss you,Dad!
So does everybody else!
You were the Best Dad ever!
Thank-you for being my Dad!
Love,Your Oldest Child~
Colleen O'Keefe

Colleen O'Keefe-Daughter

July 2, 2019

Hi,-
My name is Colleen O'Keefe.
I'm the oldest of the three children that Brian and Kathy O'Keefe have.
And I really did have the
Best Dad ever! I really did!
My Dad was a very good Dad, he had many good qualities, and everybody who knew him could tell you that.
My Dad's good qualities often shined through in the variety of kindnesses he extended to other people, and to animals.
Specifically, dogs.
My Dad was a very good man.
And he was.
I miss him.
And,of course, everybody else does,too.
Last month,
June 21st,2019,
marked the two year anniversary of my Dad's death. Wow!
It's been two years already!
It seems like it just happened the other day!
Wow,the time went by so quickly!
During these past two years, alot has happened. Alot.
There have been several other deaths to contend with since we buried my Dad,including that of my Amazing Gramma Mooney and my Wonderful Aunt Paula Mooney.
Plus health issues have come up,which we are still dealing with.
However, my Dad would be so happy to know that,
during all this,my mom has proved to be a strong one.
That's for sure.
In addition,my Dad would be amazed at the kind love and support that many people are still giving my mom and the rest of our family.
The friends that both my Dad and mom have have proved to be real friends.
Starting with the endless food being brought over to the house after Dad died,to the very kind people who are now willingly making themselves available to chauffeur my mom to her doctor appointments,
and therapy sessions.
As well as to the occasional fashion show and lunch out.
Also,they have at times have acted as personal chefs for my mom.
Thank-you so so much.
Last month,
on the anniversary date of
my Dad's death,
Two of these amazing friends came to the grave with my mom and I.
One of them made a nice little bouquet of roses for my mom,and my mom placed it on the grave. Those flowers came from the rosebush that my Dad planted,but sadly, never had the pleasure to see bloom.
It was a nice warm day,
and at some point, all four of us went to a little place for lunch. It was a good day.
We did much that day.
God reliably promises us that He WILL completely get rid of Death shortly.
He will do this out of love for people, because God views Death as an enemy against people,
our enemy,
and,like a protective parent, God hates to see Death hurt us in any way.
Anything or anyone that hurts us and makes us sad is definitely not a good friend,
(who would want a friend like that?),
but Death is an enemy.
God comforts us by promising us that very soon,in the future, there will be no more Death on the earth.
God will destroy it.
God's promise to us personally is this:
"The last enemy,Death,will be brought to nothing."-
1 Corinthians 15:26
How comforting and reassuring is that!
I'm looking forward to that happening,and then those asleep in death now will be woken up and enjoy life on earth again! Dad will then be happy,healthy, and full of energy for each new perfect day thereafter!
This hope is comforting!
Finally, "Death will be no more"!-Revelation 21:4
I'm looking forward to that day when I can hug my Dad again, and go on a hike alongside a river with him,and I truly hope that everyone else who misses him now can do the same then! Of course, Dad is going to want to bring his dog with him,too,which is fine!
I might even make some cookies for that enjoyable hike,too!
When God promises something, it always comes true and on schedule.
God never lies!
I had the Best Dad, and the Best Parents ever!
I had the Best Dad ever!

Bruce Shitk

June 18, 2019

I remember Brian when he was a junior Captain and I was a First Lieutenant my boss in Wing G-2 at MCAS Cherry Point. Sometimes when Id ask him a question hed give that impish grin and say You dont know, do you?. Brian was great fun to work with. I would add that I will always be grateful to him for inviting me to join the FBI-Marine Corps Association, whose gatherings at Ft Stewart in Poughkeepsie were memorable-flyovers, the Marine Band, the shooting range, the sloppiest parade of Marines ever, the Commandant and good friendships. Good memories. Love to Kathy and family. Bruce Shirk

Susan Sullivan DeMelle

January 11, 2019

Dear Colleen,
I found this post on line entirely by mistake.
Nancy OKeefe Bolick was my best friend in college andwemoved together to DCto teach in the fall of 1965. Your mother, Kathy, let us stay with her in her shared house in Georgetown until we found an apartment and got set up. Is Margaret the grandmother you refer to here? How I would love to see her if that would be appropriate. The O'Keefes were so much fun. I miss Nancy every day of my life. We reconnected recently with Katie when she was reading from her work in nearby Stockbridge, MA. Such a sweetheart! Brian was a gem. You were lucky to have him for your Dad.
If you would like to be in touch, I would love that. 860-435-2289
[email protected]

Bruce Shirk

November 10, 2018

I learned of Brian's passing a few days ago and have been sad ever since. Brian was a good Marine, a good boss to have in the Corps and a good friend, of whom I never saw enough. I always felt welcome in Brian and Kathy's home. Kathy, Brian is not forgotten. Semper Fi -Bruce Shirk [email protected], 202-468-6853

Colleen O'Keefe

June 26, 2018

Hi,-
My name is Colleen O'Keefe.
I'm the oldest of Brian's three children. I had the Best Dad ever!
Thursday, June 21st, 2018 was the one year anniversary of my Dad's death. He is very much missed by a whole bunch of people!
He was definitely was loved,and valued.
I had the Best Dad ever!
On the annivesary of my father's death,my mom and I spent the day together. We went out for breakfast, then we went to visit my dad's grave.
It was a nice sunny,pleasent,and quiet Thursday morning at the cemetery. There was a mockingbird perched somewhere nearby where we were,and it seemed like it was singing to us.Maybe knowing that we needed alittle happy music that day.
We spent some time there, then we went to visit my 105 year old gramma. She is doing good.We took her out,and got her a coffee milkshake. It was a good day.
My Dad was a very good man.
Everyone liked him,everyone.
My Dad loved people,liked helping people,and enjoyed good conversation with family and friends over a good meal.My dad liked to tell stories, and also had a good sense of humor. As everyone knows, my Dad absolutely loved dogs, especially his three golden retrievers,~Sandy,Sam,and Sligo.
My Dad loved his family.
My Dad loved his children.
When we were little,in Oregon, my dad would often go on bike rides with my brother and I after dinner,either that,or we would go on walks as a family around the neighborhood.
My Dad loved sports.
Often,my dad would take me to the professional basketball games that the Portland, Oregon Trail Blazers would play. I can still remember that clearly. Sometimes my Dad would leave the game a few minutes early in hopes of beating the traffic. Only to find out from listening to the game on the car radio, that we had missed seeing an important play,or score in the game. My Dad loved his children very much,and,although busy with work,made time to spend quality time with us.He was always there for
My brother and sister's sporting events.
My Dad made the best cheese omlettes on the weekends, and often made very well done hamburgers that he would cook on the grill outside.Though alittle on the
burnt side,the hamburgers were still good,because Dad had made them.
On lazy Sunday afternoons,my Dad and Mom would make grilled cheese sandwiches that were served with tomato soup. My Dad's favorite was a tunafish sandwich.
My Dad would be so happy, and appreciative of all the help and support that my mom is getting from everybody. Even recently, when the refrigerator died,the neighbors came over,and went online to diligently compare prices and measurements, in order to help my mom pick out a new refrigerator. My Dad would be so thankful for that.
My Dad was the Best!
Everyone not only liked him,but loved him.
I look forward to hugging my Dad again in the New,Future Paradise Earth,and I look forward to seeing all his friends do the same!
This New Earth is described in detail in the Bible, and it is going to happen. When it does occur, at that time,the Our Father Prayer will then be answered permanently.
Jesus taught us that prayer because He knew that the Future New Paradise Earth would be a reality,where
"Death would be no more"
-Revelation 21:4;
and where those now,asleep in death would be reunited with us on Earth again.
- John Chapter 11
I had the Best Dad ever!
I really did!
I am waiting for the time when I can touch him again,and squeeze his finger.
Just hours before he died,my father,
though in the last moments of his wonderful life,my father made the effort to communicate with me by squeezing my finger very tightly.
That was his final"I love you,Colleen."
to me.
In the coming Paradise,
I'm going to say
"I love you,too,Dad,very much."
That day is coming,soon.
I had the Best Dad ever!
My Dad would happy to know that my mom is so strong,and
has alot of support from everybody who loves both my mom and dad.
I had the Best Dad ever!
-Colleen O'Keefe

July 8, 2017

Brian was an incredible man with the amassing things he accomplished during his lifetime. He was a great friend of my husband and loved sharing stories and books. His wife Kathy has been a lifetime friend and my love, prayers and sorrow go out to all the O'Keefe Family. MLBenson & family

Colleen O'Keefe

July 3, 2017

My name is Colleen O'Keefe. I'm the oldest of the three children that Brian and Kathy O'Keefe have.I had the BEST DAD ever! AND although his death was completely unexpected & seemed to come out of nowhere,my Dad is still alive in the many,many good family memories that he left behind,& there are several(& then some ).I remember that,although not having a typical "normal " job, my Dad would do his best to be home in time to eat dinner together with my mom,& us three children.My Dad would ALWAYS open the dinner table conversation by saying:"Doesn't this look good?.My Dad would ALWAYS say that,each & every time.It became sort of like "a Dad thing" after awhile. He then would proceed to tell us about his day,& what he had for lunch, -which was almost always half of a tunafish sandwich.My Dad's dinner table conversation was predictable,but welcomed.It would not have been dinner without him there.When my brother & I were little,& our family lived in Oregon, often in the warm summer evenings, my Dad would take my brother & I out to Dairy Queen to get ice cream after dinner.I usually ended up with ice cream all over my face,& my Dad had to find something to clean me up with before we returned home to mom.I clearly remember those ice cream trips,they were messy but fun. My Dad loved sports.He was a fan of the Boston Red Sox, the New England Patriots, & locally,the Connecticut Hartford Whalers.While we lived on the west coast, my Dad was a fan of the Portland TrailBlazers. There were many, many times when my Dad would take my brother & I to Portland TrailBlazers games.Sometimes,it was just Dad & me.We had quality father & daughter time together in the car as we traveled 1 Hour to get to the game,& likewise,during the 1 Hour trip back home.Although busy with work, my Dad made time for his children,& it was quality time.My Dad loved being a FBI agent He was a very,very analytical, & observant person,so the FBI was a good match for him.My Dad had a reputation of working diligently & thoroughly to resolve cases,& catch those responsible for the crimes committed.My Dad was a very skilled investigator,experienced at gathering facts & evidence. During his career, my Dad forged many,many solid friendships with other FBI agents whom he worked with. Many of these friendships deepened, & drew closer over the years.These agents became more like close family friends than just co-workers,& saw my younger siblings & I grow up.These same fine people were with us in Newport, tearfully supporting us after Dad died.While in the FBI,My Dad's professional work ethic earned him the respect & praise from various of others in law enforcement,as was echoed in the piles of letters of appreciation we found after my Dad's death. Although Dad did have a challenging work schedule,he never forgot about his kids.I clearly & vividly remember,with pleasure, countless many times when I would play with my brother in my Dad's FBI office, while my Dad was trying to get caught up on some paperwork during the weekends. We would color,or look at people out the window while playing with some binoculars(I still remember that).Dad would sometimes have to remind us to play quietly because he was trying to do important work.I remember those times clearly.My Dad was honest,had a very strong sense of justice,& of right & wrong,was respectful of others;& by his own good example(both in word & deed),taught my younger brother & sister,& I how to show kindnesses to others,how to be generous, how to work hard,& how to display good manners.My Dad enjoyed a good conversation over food with family & friends,loved the outdoors,& as everyone knew,my Dad ABSOLUTELY loved dogs,especially his golden retrievers Sam & Sligo.My Dad loved Newport,R.I.,&everything Newport stands for.My Dad was the BEST DAD ever!♡ My Dad always enjoyed my peanut butter & chocolate chip cookies,yet,he would often remark about how big they were.But that didn't
stop him from taking one,or two,or maybe even three of them.My Dad was the best Dad,& FBI agent ever!He had many friends,& now his family & friends have many happy memories!I♡I looked forward to hugging him in that Paradise Future Earth that the Bible describes in vivid detail(Revelation 21:3&4-"Death will be no more")♡Brian O'Keefe's oldest daughter -Colleen O'Keefe

Ginger Primus

June 29, 2017

I only met Brian briefly but saw him as a kind, gentle man. I am glad he was able to travel to the home of his ancestors. My sympathy goes to his wife Kathy and the entire O'Keefe family at this difficult time.
A fellow traveler, Ginger Primus

Bernie Sullivan,Chief of Police Htfd.Ct.Ret.

June 24, 2017

Please accept my sympathy on Brian's passing.I had the pleasure of working with Brian on some major cases in the Hartford area.Brian was a great guy to work with and one who never was distracted from his goals.He will be well remembered in the Ct Law Enforcement Community

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