Obituary of John Thomas Keane

John Thomas Keane, 85, husband, father, grandfather, bagpiper and scientist passed away on June 6, 2018 following a long illness.

John graduated from Villanova University in 1958  following a 3 year stint in the United States Navy. He then embarked on a 30+ year career at Brookhaven National Lab. Along the way, he earned a Master’s degree from Brooklyn Polytechnic, and ultimately retired as a member of the senior scientific staff.  In addition to a brilliant scientific career, he was known for decades to practice his bagpipes on the ballfields on the BNL campus.  In fact, when John retired, he was a subject of feature articles in Newsday and the New York Times noting the BNL community would be indelibly changed because lunch hour would no longer have the distant sound of bagpipe music rolling over the campus.

In 1959 John married the love of his life, Mary Kiernan. Together, they raised 4 children in suburban Long Island. John was a constant (and vocal) presence at all events involving his four children and grandchildren.  He was a founding member of the Division 8 Ancient Order of Hibernians, an active parishioner, avid sailor and had a fierce passion for playing the  bagpipes.  After playing as a member of the Saffron United, Roisin Dubh and Emerald Society Bands, he devoted himself to teaching the next generation of pipers. 

John is survived by his wife of 59 years, Mary, his children and their spouses, Mary Ellen and Wally, Michael and Jeannie, John and Roseann, and Kevin and Veronica.  He has left a lasting impression on the hearts of his grandchildren,  Walter, Timothy and Nora Varhue, Mickey, Kyle and Caitlin Keane, Christopher, Meagan and John Peter Keane, and Kevin, Kieran, Konall and Kilian Keane. New editions to his immediate family include Wally’s wife, Kazusa Edamura, Kyle’s wife, Caitlin, Caitlin’s fiance, Bob Bisconti, and Mickey’s fiancee, Colleen Lange.

It was important to John to give back.  Despite a heavy workload as a senior scientist, he taught as an adjunct professor to young minds at local colleges on Long Island.  At home, his big, caring, positive personality led him to be known as Grandpa Keane to the legions of young people who crossed his path.  He even lent his skills to the movie industry, playing a role as the bagpiper in the movie The Guru, “starring” alongside Heather Graham.  While he may not have gotten an Oscar nomination, he got a lot of laughs.  And that was most important to John.

John is loved, and will forever be remembered.  He will be missed.