Thomas Keane: A son to Michael and Mary Keane, an Irish anchor baby, UCONN alum, WWII veteran, but most important to Thomas, a family man.
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.
Thomas and Betty Anne brought 8 wonderful children into the world while living in Hartford, Connecticut. However by the time number 9 came along, Kevin Keane, the family moved to Needham, Massachusetts so that Thomas could pursue a pharmaceutical sales job. As Kevin likes to tease, "my father sold drugs for a living."
Tom and Betty Anne's growing family moved into a cozy house on Tudor Road in Needham. Tudor Road was the home that their youngest 3 babies, Kevin, Brian and Bridget would come home to.
Tom and Betty Anne raised an incredibly caring and tight knit family. Even their oldest children Mary Beth, cared for the baby Bridget like her own. Touchingly, Kevin shared that every night, their family would pray together. But ever year, the prayer got slightly longer as the family grew. Tom and Betty Anne would lead by saying, "God Bless Mommy, Daddy, Tom, Bob, Mary, Kelly, Marty, Greg, Jimmy, Kathy, Kevin, Brian, Bridget and make us good boys and girls."
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.
As Kevin remembers, music was always a big part of his family - no matter the level of talent (and there wasn't much). Just like Michael did with his children, Tom valued the connection of music and wanted to do the same for his family.
On summer nights, the family would go on the front steps and sing songs such Mrs. Murphy's Chowder, and parody songs written by Tom Keane about each of his kids. They even sung their own rendition of Happy Birthday that all kids and grandkids still sing to this day.
As all their children moved away from home, got married, and had their own kids, music kept the family together. Now at any wedding, funeral, party, clam bake, COVID zoom call, or even family dinner is ended with a sing-along.
Michael Keane was many things, an Irish man, an immigrant, a hardworking provider, a husband, a father, and grandfather. There were times when all odds were stacked against Michael. But nonetheless, Michael worked hard and built a beautiful life of love, song and oppurtunity for his family.
So to my Great-Grandfather, I thank you for your unwavering work to providing the most for our family. I hope that we are making you proud today, and everyday. See you in the songs.