John Hugh Keaney

JOHN HUGH KEANEY, age 39, died suddenly Friday, July 10th, 2009 after fighting valiantly against a long illness. A lifelong resident of Stamford, Johnny was the beloved husband of Milca Ontiveros Keaney and devoted and loving father to Sean Hugh, age 4, and Brian Francis, 4 months. He is also survived by his mother Margaret Mulrooney Keaney of Stamford, his sister Maura of Stamford and Falls Church, VA, his brother Frank, Jr. of Valrico, FL, and a large extended family of cousins, aunts, and uncles. He is predeceased by his father, Francis "Frank" Keaney, his grandparents Sarah and John Mulrooney of Stamford, and Mary and Hugh Keaney of County Leitrim, Ireland. Johnny was employed as a heavy equipment mechanic in the Fleet Management Division of the City of Stamford, and previously worked for the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation as a diesel mechanic. He was a generous mechanic and all around fix-it man to countless friends and family in Stamford. Johnny was proud to serve his co-workers with the City of Stamford as the Vice President and Business Officer of his local union, United Electrical Workers Local 222 CILU/CIPU. A graduate of Diesel Technology Institute in Enfield, CT, Johnny attended J.M. Wright Technical School and Dolan and Stark Schools in Stamford. He recently was named to the Dean's List at Norwalk Community College. The joy and main focus in Johnny's life was his family. He volunteered as an assistant coach of his son Sean's hockey and baseball teams. Johnny bought the two-family house in Stamford that his parents had rented all his life so that they would always have a home. He took daily care of his elderly father during years of illness preceding his death, and checked in on his mother every day until his last. Johnny was a lifelong parishioner at St. Maurice Church, where he, like his father, served as an usher and was recently appointed Parish Trustee. He also served on the fundraising committee of Our Lady of Grace Convent School and was a member of the Knights of Columbus, 3rd Degree, St. Augustine Council #41 in Stamford. Johnny was an avid hunter, motorcyclist, member of the Bow Hunter's Association and National Rifle Association. Always rooting for the underdog, Johnny was a life-long fan of the Mets. Family and friends may call at the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Avenue, on Monday, July 13 from 4 to 8 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Maurice RC Church, 358 Glenbrook Road, Stamford, on Tuesday, July 14 at 9:30 AM. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions for the welfare of his sons Sean and Brian may be made to Milca Keaney c/o First County Bank, 275 Hope Street, Stamford, 06902. In memory of Johnny, root for the underdog, call an old friend, and know you are not alone. Condolences may be expressed online at www.cognetta.com.