WEST CARTHAGE, NY — Patrick J. Keogh, 84, died Monday, July 19, 2021, at home, surrounded by family.
He was born on Nov. 20, 1936, in County Cavan, Ireland, the son of James Keogh and Susan Donohoe Keogh.
Patrick came to the US in 1956 and became a US citizen on May 7, 1963. He first lived in the Bronx with an uncle. He worked at the Rodgers Peet Company in Manhattan until 1960 when he relocated to Watertown, NY, to work at the J.R. Miller Company where he worked for 31 years.
Pat & Gay met on a blind date in December 1963 and were married on Aug. 1, 1964, at Holy Family Church in Watertown.
Pat was a member of the Carthage Elks Club, Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Knights of Columbus.
He was active in local politics servings as the Supervisor of the town of Wilna for 2 years in the 1990s and was a board member for the town of Wilna for many years.
Pat was a proud American who never lost sight of his heritage. He was active in the North Country Goes Green Irish Festival for years and was never happier than when working the Project Children booth and chatting up any, and all, festival goers.
He was instrumental in expanding Project Children to the north country. Project Children North was a program that brought children from Northern Ireland to Northern New York for a summer respite from the “troubles” in Belfast and Derry from 1983 to 2015.
He furthered his passion for helping the less fortunate by serving on the Board of Visitors of Sunmount Developmental Center for nine years from 1984 to 1993.
Pat spent his retirement shooting the breeze over coffee at McDonald’s, visiting family in Ireland annually and touring with the local Senior Citizen organization.
Pat is survived by his wife of nearly 57 years, Gay (Roberts) Keogh; a sister, Christina (Keogh) Gilsenan; three children, Dennis Keogh, Maureen (Keogh) David and Tara (Keogh) Lyons; seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews both in the US and in Ireland.
He was predeceased by a daughter Molly, two brothers Liam and Edward and a sister, Agnes.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, July 24, 2021, at Saint James Church, Carthage with Rev. Todd E. Thibault, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in St. James Cemetery. Friends may call from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to The Molly E Keogh Scholarship Fund at 18 Lathrop Street, Carthage, NY or to Hospice of Jefferson County.
To leave a condolence, go to www.bezanillafh.com.