Dennis Joseph O'Keefe

1952 - 2016

Dennis Joseph O'Keefe
1952 – 2015
Dennis O'Keefe's Great Adventure ended this December in Kihei, Maui. Dennis lived a rich life on his own terms. His outsize personality, warmth and genuine curiosity will be sorely missed by the multitude of family and friends he leaves behind.
Dennis lived in Larchmont, NY; Tucson, AZ; Boise, ID; Albuquerque, NM; Austin, TX; Lancaster, PA; and finally, Maui, HI.
He was a graduate of Stepinac High School in White Plains, NY, and received a degree in Political Science from Georgetown University. Upon graduation, he served his country as a chaplain in the United States Air Force. Following several years of monastic training, he decided against the religious life and moved to the western United States.
While in Boise, he worked for Idaho Power Company; owned a successful real estate company; and worked for a brokerage firm. Dennis also served on the boards of directors of various nonprofits and taught community education classes in the areas of finance and real estate. He was a drummer in a local band.
Dennis enjoyed travel and the outdoors, and loved photographing the many places he hiked and camped. He had a sharp eye for composition and spent many happy hours photographing the stark landscapes of the west and southwest.
Both a thoughtful, contemplative person, and an enthusiastic socializer, he could, at his best, charm an audience and regale them with stories, or persuade a group to his thinking. He was a willing and able participant in volunteer activities, and had a real drive to do good in the world.
Dennis moved to the island of Maui in 2009. There, he enjoyed daily walks on the beach with his faithful dog, Murphy, and often smoked a cigar while watching the ocean, whales, clouds, and shadows. He shared his life on Maui with his "off-island" friends by posting pictures online of his activities and friends and the natural beauty that meant so much to him.
He became a professional photographer, documenting happenings and personalities of his island home. He also published several photographic books, focusing on portraits of local women.
Dennis is survived by his children, Tom O'Keefe and Lauren O'Keefe, as well as his brother, Michael, his sister, Erin, and his ex-wife, Jackie O'Keefe. Dennis' marriage to Jackie ended in divorce.
A celebration of Dennis' life was held in Maui on Friday, January 15th on Keawakapu Beach; a small family gathering was hosted in New York City on Friday, January 22nd; and a celebration of Dennis' life will be held in Boise, Idaho in the first week of May, with details still to be determined.