Philip M. Keohane

MILLIS Philip M. Keohane, of Millis, formerly of Medfield, February 8, 2009. Mr. Keohane, a newspaper editor and business writer passed away peacefully Sunday at his home surrounded by his family. He was 78. Mr. Keohane was a native of Norwood. He had a lifelong interest in aviation and flew a private plane beginning with his first flying lesson in June 1945. He had been a journalist for United Press International for 12 years before becoming editor-in-chief of Transcript Newspapers in Dedham in 1971. He was responsible for two daily newspapers, The Waltham News Tribune and the Daily Transcript, and six weekly newspapers and won many awards from the New England Press Association. He joined the Patriot Ledger as West Edition Editor in 1985 and later that year became manager of public affairs for GTE Government Systems in Needham. While at GTE he was responsible for media relations, speech writing and corporate public affairs planning. Mr. Keohane attended St. Johns Preparatory School in Danvers and St. Johns Seminary in Boston. He was a member of the Aero Club of New England, the New York Legislative Correspondents Association and Sigma Delta Chi, a society of journalists. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy G. Land, a son, Michael J. Keohane and his wife Liz of Fairfield, CT., a daughter Kerry Keohane Whalen and her husband John of Newburyport, a daughter Karen Keohane Sharlot and her husband Matthew of Amesbury, his first wife Peg Keohane, a sister, Faith Ofgant, nieces and nephews Lynn, David, Jeffery and Kyle Ofgant, and four grandchildren, Lucy and Hannah Keohane, and Emma and Finnian Whalen. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Timothy Catholic Church, Norwood, on Saturday, February 21, at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends invited. Private burial services will be held at Highland Cemetery in Norwood. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Beacon Hospice, 160 Speen Street, Framingham, MA 01710. For remembrances, please visit www.mem.com. Gillooly Funeral Home Norwood, 781-762-0174