Thomas Keane was the second youngest child of Michael and Mary Keane. After growing up with his family in Hartford, Connecticut, Thomas joined army to fight for the United States in WWII. He had to lie to get into the army because technically, he was blind in one eye. The Keane family today likes to joke that "Grandpa single-handedly defeated the Nazi's... " With a little prodding, they will concede that WWII was a group effort.

One thing that Tom learned while stationed in Belgium, was how to make french fries. After the war, he would often make french fries for his children and and pass the secret recipe onto his children.

Although his father Michael had built a successful life in the Untied States, Thomas would share with his kids that while he was at war, he would get letters from his father telling him, "if you look in the distance you can see the sky over Ireland." 

When Michael returned from the war, he married a beautiful woman and the love of his life, Betty Anne Kelly. 

Pictured above: Thomas, Betty Anne, and three of their 11 children, Kelly, Gregory and Brian singing together at a Keane Family clam bake on Cape Cod.