William F. Keating Jr. of Mahopac, NY was born on June 26, 1928, to William Keating and Ann Harrigan Keating at Fordham Hospital, Bronx, New York. A Mt. Vernon son, he graduated from Davis High School after enlisting with the US Navy before his 18th birthday. Bill served on the North Atlantic Patrol from 1945 to 1946. He later re-enlisted with the US Air Force in 1949 and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant for the Far East Patrol until his honorable discharge in 1953.
He married Lucille Walsh Keating in 1951 at Sacred Heart Monastery Church in Yonkers, NY and together they went on to have seven children; Collean Butler (Ralph), Kevin, Eileen Cowen, James (Marianne), Maureen, Margaret, and Marianne Hecker (John). Bill also was the proud grandfather of 18 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife, Lucille; his brother John of Pensacola, FL, brother Thomas of Binghamton, NY, daughter-in law, Lori Margolis Keating, Tallahassee, FL; and son-in-law Russell Cowen, Phoenix, AZ.
Bill originally owned his own heating business and then worked many years and retired from Robison Oil Company. He moved to Mahopac in 1966 and while working for Robison Oil hosted a local cable television show they sponsored. Also at various times, he was a news reporter with The Danbury News Times and The Reporter Dispatch. For many years he had weekly columns in the Putnam County Courier called “Dear Harvey” and “Back Roads” in which he reported on the local Putnam County community scene. After retiring from Robison, Bill was employed by and retired at 88 years old from Putnam County General Services as the County mail man and switchboard operator.
Bill was also a life member of the Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department and served as President 1995-96. He was also a founding member and Captain of the Putnam County Fire Police. He was a member of the Democratic Party, the Town of Carmel CMRR, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee and the Grand Marshall of the parade in 1993.
If you were lucky enough to know Bill at any time over his 95 years, you were lucky. We are celebrating a life well lived. He loved his family, his church, the Air Force, his community, and mostly the fire department and fire police who were his friends to the end. He wasn’t just another fellow voicing ideas – he supported them with action. Lucky enough to live 95 full years, many of those who he counted as family and friends have moved on or passed on, but he was a people person to the end.
He was an active parishioner of St John the Evangelist Church in Mahopac and was a lector there for many years. Visiting was held on Thursday, October 12 from 4-8 pm at Joseph J. Smith Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Friday, October 13 at 10 am at St. John the Evangelist Church with interment following at Ballard-Barrett Cemetery, Mahopac Falls.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of Bill to the Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 267, Mahopac, NY 10541 or St. John’s Food Pantry, 221 East Lake Blvd., Mahopac, NY 10541.
