77, of Pawtucket, Rhode Island passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, January 26, 2019 surrounded by his loving family.
Judge Keough is survived by his wife, Joan; his son Joseph A. Keough Jr. and his wife Kimberly; and, his three daughters, the Honorable Maureen B. Keough, Kathleen M. Schram and her husband, Joseph Schram, and, Colleen M. Keough. He was the incredibly proud Papa of Colin and Kyle Keough and Tess and Finn Schram. He is survived by his brothers Francis P. Keough and Dennis Q. Keough, and his sister, Kathleen M. Keough. He is also survived by many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins. He is predeceased by his sister, the late Helen V. McGinn.
Judge Keough was a proud native of Pawtucket. He was an Eagle Scout and a 1958 graduate of St. Raphael’s Academy. In 1962, he graduated from Providence College, and in 1970 he earned his law degree from Suffolk University Law School. He was a Rhode Island Superior Court Magistrate Judge from 1997 to 2008; Chief Judge of the Pawtucket Municipal Court from 1994 to 1997; and Associate Judge of the Pawtucket Municipal Court from 1973 to 1982. He was a partner in the firm of Keough, Parker & Gearon from 1975 to 1997, where he maintained a thriving law practice.
From 1969 to 1973, he served as Executive Director of the Rhode Island Democrat State Committee; from 1966 to 1973 he was Chairman of the Pawtucket Board of Canvassers; and from 1994 to 1997 he served as Chairman of the Pawtucket Juvenile Hearing Board. He was a long-time Board Member and Past President of the Pawtucket Country Club, and was immensely proud to be a John P. Burke Caddy Scholarship recipient and later a member of the Board that awarded the Burke scholarships. Following his retirement from the bench, Judge Keough was actively involved with the Pawtucket Soup Kitchen serving as Vice President and as a member of the Board of Directors. He also served in various leadership roles for numerous business and community organizations, and in 2018 was inducted into the Pawtucket Hall of Fame.
Notwithstanding his many achievements, Judge Keough will be remembered for the way he lived his life. He was a self-made man who earned his successes through hard work, tenacity and education. A proud Irishman, he enjoyed life to the fullest and surrounded himself with friends, family and laughter. He may have had a few regrets when he left this world, but if he did, they were too few to mention because he did it his way.
The funeral will be held at 10:00am on Friday, February 1, 2019 at St. Margaret Church, 1098 Pawtucket Ave, Rumford, RI. Interment will follow at Mt. St. Mary’s Cemetery, Pawtucket. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 8:00pm on Thursday, January 31, 2019 at the William W. Tripp Funeral Home, 1008 Newport Avenue, Pawtucket, RI.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts to the Pawtucket Soup Kitchen, P.O. Box 3102, Pawtucket, RI 02861 or the John P. Burke Memorial Fund, One Button Hole Drive, Providence, RI 02909 would be appreciated.
Arrangements entrusted to the J.F. Skeffington Funeral Home.
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