Obituary for Stephen Thomas Keane
Stephen Thomas Keane, 88 of Spring Lake passed away Wednesday, February 17, 2021 with his beloved family at his side.
Born in Orange to the late Michael and Mary (nee Gunn) Keane, he was raised in Belmar, where he lived for most of his life before moving to Spring Lake in 1967.
He was a graduate of St. Rose Grammar and High Schools and was a proud member of the 1949 State Champion St. Rose High School Basketball team. He maintained close personal relationships with his teammates throughout his life and right up until the time of his passing.
Stephen graduated from St. John’s College, Brooklyn and went on to graduate from Seton Hall Law School. He was in private practice throughout his career specializing in Planning and Zoning Law cases. He had also served as the Prosecutor and the Planning Board Attorney for the borough of Spring Lake. He was considered an expert in Planning and Zoning matters and was called as an expert witness and attorney on many cases throughout his career. Following his college graduation he entered the United States Marine Corps until being honorably discharged as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1957.
He was a longtime member of the Spring Lake Golf Club and we believe he is happily reunited with the "boys" with whom he shared many laughs and rounds of golf back in the day. He was a regular weekend beachgoer at the North End in Spring Lake, enjoying the company of the "circle" for many years. In later years, he could be found sitting on the boardwalk with Joyce greeting everyone who passed by. He was a member and Past President of the 200 Club of Monmouth County.
Stephen was a very devout member of the Catholic church. He was a lifelong parishioner of St Catharine - St. Margaret Parish, where he was a CCD Teacher for many years.
He was the original “visiting angel“ to many of the disadvantaged and less fortunate and shut-ins in the area. He would provide them with transportation to various appointments, helping with grocery shopping and other essential parts of their lives. He never asked for anything in return and didn’t want his good deeds to be acknowledged publicly.
He was predeceased by his parents, his son Terence Keane, his 2 brothers John and Thomas Keane and his son in law Lewis “Randy” Marks.
Surviving is his devoted wife of 60 years Joyce (nee Grady) Keane, his 8 children Joyce and John Vorbach, Michael and Laura Keane, Stephen Keane, Meghan and David Frost, Ellen and Douglas Ganssle, Susan Marks Sauter and Kevin Sauter, Sharon and Tim McAloon, and Amy and Thomas Cusmano, his 2 sisters Mary Krugh, and Margaret and Bill Jackwicz, his 22 grandchildren Shannon and Michael Keane, Stephen, Emily, Matthew, Billy, David and Patrick Frost, Chelsea (Ganssle) and Ryan Duckers, Andrew, Douglas and Mae Ganssle, Tilly, Lewis, Sharon, Bobbo, Terence and Jane Marks, Eleanor, Susan, Luke and James McAloon and many nieces, nephews and cousins who adored him.
Visitation will be on Sunday from 1:00pm to 4:00pm at the O’Brien Funeral Home, 2028 Hwy 35 at New Bedford Rd., Wall followed by a Mass of Christian Burial on Monday, February 22, 2021 at 10:30am in St. Margaret’s Church, Corner of 3rd and Ludlow Ave. Spring Lake. Private burial will take place in the NJ Veterans Cemetery, Arneytown.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, there are limitations on capacity at the funeral home and in the Church. Guests are asked to briefly greet the family for the visitation and exit the building so others may enter. Face-coverings must be worn to enter the building.
In lieu of flowers the Keane family specifically requests donations be made to Covenant House, Times Square Station, P.O. Box 731, New York, NY 10108-0900 (Donation forms will be available at the funeral home on Sunday.)
Born in Orange to the late Michael and Mary (nee Gunn) Keane, he was raised in Belmar, where he lived for most of his life before moving to Spring Lake in 1967.
He was a graduate of St. Rose Grammar and High Schools and was a proud member of the 1949 State Champion St. Rose High School Basketball team. He maintained close personal relationships with his teammates throughout his life and right up until the time of his passing.
Stephen graduated from St. John’s College, Brooklyn and went on to graduate from Seton Hall Law School. He was in private practice throughout his career specializing in Planning and Zoning Law cases. He had also served as the Prosecutor and the Planning Board Attorney for the borough of Spring Lake. He was considered an expert in Planning and Zoning matters and was called as an expert witness and attorney on many cases throughout his career. Following his college graduation he entered the United States Marine Corps until being honorably discharged as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1957.
He was a longtime member of the Spring Lake Golf Club and we believe he is happily reunited with the "boys" with whom he shared many laughs and rounds of golf back in the day. He was a regular weekend beachgoer at the North End in Spring Lake, enjoying the company of the "circle" for many years. In later years, he could be found sitting on the boardwalk with Joyce greeting everyone who passed by. He was a member and Past President of the 200 Club of Monmouth County.
Stephen was a very devout member of the Catholic church. He was a lifelong parishioner of St Catharine - St. Margaret Parish, where he was a CCD Teacher for many years.
He was the original “visiting angel“ to many of the disadvantaged and less fortunate and shut-ins in the area. He would provide them with transportation to various appointments, helping with grocery shopping and other essential parts of their lives. He never asked for anything in return and didn’t want his good deeds to be acknowledged publicly.
He was predeceased by his parents, his son Terence Keane, his 2 brothers John and Thomas Keane and his son in law Lewis “Randy” Marks.
Surviving is his devoted wife of 60 years Joyce (nee Grady) Keane, his 8 children Joyce and John Vorbach, Michael and Laura Keane, Stephen Keane, Meghan and David Frost, Ellen and Douglas Ganssle, Susan Marks Sauter and Kevin Sauter, Sharon and Tim McAloon, and Amy and Thomas Cusmano, his 2 sisters Mary Krugh, and Margaret and Bill Jackwicz, his 22 grandchildren Shannon and Michael Keane, Stephen, Emily, Matthew, Billy, David and Patrick Frost, Chelsea (Ganssle) and Ryan Duckers, Andrew, Douglas and Mae Ganssle, Tilly, Lewis, Sharon, Bobbo, Terence and Jane Marks, Eleanor, Susan, Luke and James McAloon and many nieces, nephews and cousins who adored him.
Visitation will be on Sunday from 1:00pm to 4:00pm at the O’Brien Funeral Home, 2028 Hwy 35 at New Bedford Rd., Wall followed by a Mass of Christian Burial on Monday, February 22, 2021 at 10:30am in St. Margaret’s Church, Corner of 3rd and Ludlow Ave. Spring Lake. Private burial will take place in the NJ Veterans Cemetery, Arneytown.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, there are limitations on capacity at the funeral home and in the Church. Guests are asked to briefly greet the family for the visitation and exit the building so others may enter. Face-coverings must be worn to enter the building.
In lieu of flowers the Keane family specifically requests donations be made to Covenant House, Times Square Station, P.O. Box 731, New York, NY 10108-0900 (Donation forms will be available at the funeral home on Sunday.)