Colonel Daniel Richard Keenan, 82, U.S. Army (retired), of Strasburg, Virginia, died November 30, 2010, in a local rehabilitation facility.

Colonel Keenan was born in 1928, in New York City, New York, the son of the late Margaret and Thomas Keenan of Amagh Lough, Ireland. He was in the Aviation Industry for 50 years. He grew up in Rockaway Beach, New York and graduated from Far Rockaway High School. He attended college at Clemson, South Carolina, in the Military's ASTP program, the University of Maryland and graduated from the Aviation Safety College at the University of Southern California. He attended First Presbyterian Church in Winchester.

Colonel Keenan joined the Army in 1945 and retired after 22 years of service. He was a Veteran of World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam. He was an Air Field Commander at Vung Tau in Vietnam. He was awarded the Bronze Star, Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Senior Army Aviator's Badge, Vietnam Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal and the Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device 60. He retired as Commander of the VIP Flight Detachment (PAT) Davison Field at Fort. Belvoir, Virginia. Colonel Keenan founded Annandale and Fairfax Air Conditioning and Heating, later named Keenan Heating and Cooling.

After retiring from the Army, Colonel Keenan was a Federal Aviation Flight Inspector. He was the principal inspector on various air carriers. After retiring from the FAA, he was employed by the United Nations and served as the Chief Flight Safety Inspector to the governments of the Philippines and Botswana, South Africa.

Colonel Keenan married the former Fay Menefee Ettare of Oakton, formerly of Luray, Virginia, on December 28, 1985, in the Ft. Meyer Chapel at Ft. Meyer, Virginia.

Surviving with his wife are two daughters, Coleen Joan Keenan Hersson of Rixeyville, Virginia and Theresa Ann Keenan Wilson of Gainesville, Florida; son, Daniel Michael Keenan of Annapolis, Maryland; two stepsons, W. Anthony Ettare, Jr. of Chantilly, Virginia and Eric Joseph Ettare of Olde Town Alexandria; seven grandchildren and a brother, Bernard Keenan of Rockaway, New York. Five sisters and three brothers have preceded him in death.

A memorial service will be conducted at 2:00 PM on Friday, at First Presbyterian Church with Reverend Dr. Richard Reifsnyder officiating. Interment will be in Arlington National Cemetery, at a later date, with full military honors.

The family will receive friends on Thursday evening, from 6:00-8:00 PM at Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel.

Memorial contributions may be made to Armed Forces Retirement Home, 3700 N. Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC 20011-8400.

Please view obituaries and tribute wall at www.ompsfuneralhome.com

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Published by Northern Virginia Daily from Dec. 1 to Dec. 2, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for Daniel Keenan

6 Entries

Patty Parrmer

December 9, 2010

Coleen, I am so sorry to hear of the passing of your father. My thoughts are with you.

Dale and Brigitte Miller

December 8, 2010

Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.

Maureen Lyons-Walsh

December 3, 2010

Not many people could tell a story like my Uncle Danny. When he was piloting a colonel into the bush during the Vietnam War there was a terrible storm and Danny advised the colonel not to make the trip. After all, he said to the colonel, it's not important to see them today. The colonel replied, "Lt. it's not important that I see them. It's important that they see me out there on a day like today, just as they are."

Oftentimes I have thought of that story and remember its relevance. God rest his soul and comfort his family.

Eileen Pryor

December 3, 2010

Danny Keenan was a great Uncle and a caring godfather. I remember waiting on my Grandmother's porch ,with my brother John, on 113th St in Rockaway for my Uncle Bernie and Danny to return after the Korean War. When he was stationed in Northern Africa with his family, I was able to visit them. An experience I will never forget. I'll miss him as I miss the other members of the Keenan Clan.
The Mc Nulty and the Pryor families send our prayers to Faye, Michael, Colleen, and Terry. Eileen Mc Nulty Pryor Staten Island, NY

Sandi Jenkins

December 2, 2010

Fay, I am so sorry for your loss. I remember his wit and how he use to frustrate you (lovingly!!) while I was his caregiver in 2007. My prayers and thoughts are with you.

Lolo and I (",)

Irene Tiffany Ettare Santos

December 2, 2010

Lt. Col. Dan Richard Keenan or as I call him Lolo (which is Tagalog for grandfather). I've been praying for this day to never happen. For as long as I can remember you have been one of the most inspirational people in my life. You've taught me lessons from the most simplest things. I remember every summer when I came to Virgina for vacation you would always take me swimming at the Country Club in Winchester. I remember my first dive off the diving board and the smile on your face when i got out of the pool. There's a fawn memory that I will never forget, it might sound funny but it was when you taught me how to back dive off the side of the pool. I remember how scared I was. You kept making me do it over and over again til I had enough guts to do it from the diving board. Now that I'm older I've realized the real meaning to what you were teaching me. That's to never give up and in order to succeed you should always believe in yourself. I remember when we went to the movies to watch Pocahontas, when I use to sit in your lap while watching t.v. and you'd kiss me on my forehead and tell me how much you loved me, how you called me Miss. Beautiful, and how while you were driving and we were listening and singing to "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini," you'd let me control the stirring wheel (thank goodness nothing ever happened to us because we would've been in so much trouble with Grammy (",)..). How you took me on my first helicopter and horse back ride, how you taught me how to use the computer and type, when you dropped me off to my first babysitting job, when we went to the library and played golf together (and how you thought that I would be the next Tiger Woods), how we use to eat cheesecake and chocolate ice cream (your favorite). You were one of the mainreasons why I took Nursing as my course in college. I hope that I made you proud. The thing that I mostly regret is how we lost contact over the years. You have no idea how happy I was when I got to see you last 2007. I will never forget that. When my dad and Grammy took me to see you in the hospital I peeped through the curtains first before i went to kiss you and say hello, it took me awhile before I did that because I had to control my emotions, I didn't want you to see me upset. I never imagined that I'd ever see you like that. It just broke my heart. I would like to say to you Lolo that no matter what, I will never forget the moments/memories that we've spent together. I'm sorry that you never had the chance to meet my husband (Rald Alvin Santos) and my son (Nathaniel Avian Ettare Santos) your great grandson, they would have loved you. Some people have no idea on how much they missed out on having you as part of their life. You are truly a man with a golden heart. I wish so badly that I could be here with you guys now. To everyone who came to my Lolo's wake thank you for your condolences. I love you very much Lolo! God Bless your soul!

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