William Bill Keane

William "Bill" Keane, 76, died from dementia on July 7, 2021 at Waverly Inn in Arlington Heights, IL. A native of Philadelphia, Bill was first a high school English teacher at Cardinal O'Hara High School in Springfield, PA. He later served as Vice President of Saint Lawrence Rehabilitation Center in Lawrenceville New Jersey. Bill sacrificed his dream of becoming a journalist to be a caregiver to his mother and aunt with dementia. He worked tirelessly to improve the care of people living with dementia and to change the culture of healthcare. Bill worked for many healthcare and aging service organizations including the Whitman Group, Mather Institute on Aging, The Green House Project and Clare Oaks Senior Living. He also served on the board of directors of the national Alzheimer's Association and the Pioneer Network. He was one of the founders of the Delaware Valley Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. Bill graduated from Villanova University and earned master's degrees from Syracuse University and Temple University. He is survived by his sister, Roberta Keane, his sister-in-law, Kris Clark, and the children of his late brother, Dick: Dayton Keane, Kevin Keane, and Sarah Matheson. Bill loved his goddaughters, Gabriela McCarty, and Carolyn Drexler. He had friends throughout the U.S., in the Philadelphia area and a close group in his adopted home of Chicago. Bill will be remembered as a passionate advocate, teacher, and a kind and gentle soul. All those who knew Bill are invited to celebrate his life on Saturday September 11, 2021 with visitation from 10:00 to 11:00am and a Funeral Mass at 11:00am at the Olde Church of Saint Andrew, 135 S. Sycamore Street, Newtown, PA 18940. A private burial will take place following the Mass at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, gifts in Bill's honor can be made to the Pioneer Network at www.pioneernetwork.net or PO Box 18609, Rochester NY 14618 or the Dementia Action Alliance at https://daanow.org or 2305 Avinity Court, Charlottesville VA 22902.