Thomas F. Keane Jr.

Thomas F. Keane, Jr., age 72, of Fall River, passed away Saturday, May 19, 2018 in the Philip Hulitar Hospice Center in Providence, surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband of Louise R. (Langley) Keane, to whom he had been married for 48 years.

Born in Fall River, September 18, 1945, the son of the late Rita V. (Smith) Keane and the late Thomas F. Keane, son in-law to the late Henry Davol Langley and Ruth Ethel Langley, father of Michael Langley Keane and Matthew Thomas Keane, grandfather of Henry Thomas, Nathaniel Langley, and Lillian Elizabeth Keane, father in-law to Ann (Long) Keane and Dawn (Grigoreas) Keane, brother of Barbara McCormack and Sharon Major, many nephews and a niece.

Tom was a 1965 graduate of B.M.C. Durfee high School. He graduated from Johnson & Wales University with a B.S. and an MBA in Management. He worked as an Apprentice Electrician and was a certified telephone/telecommunications technician. Mr. Keane was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving aboard the USS Conway (DD507) during the Vietnam War where he earned the National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with Battle Star, The Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross for deeds of valor and acts of courage/heroism. He was enrolled in the order of Magellan for circumnavigating the globe and the order of Neptune for crossing the Equator. Mr. Keane had been active in the Colonial Navy of Massachusetts as a member of the John Paul Jones Marines. He was also a member of the USS Conway Veterans Association and enjoyed attending reunions with his service brothers.

Mr. Keane worked at John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company and for the Lightolier Corporation. He had been an Admissions Counselor, Registrar and Director of Admissions for Fisher College in Fall River and Acting Director of Student Life at Bristol Community College where he also taught GED classes to dislocated workers. Mr. Keane was a Substitute Teacher in the Fall River School System before working at Saints Peter and Paul School and later at Holy Name School. He loved teaching middle school students. His contribution to the positive development and success of his students was of great importance to him.

Mr. Keane was a Justice of the Peace for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He also served as a volunteer Case Reviewer for the Foster Care Division of the Massachusetts Department of Social Services and was a mentor in the “Smiles” program.

He was a communicant of Sacred Heart Church and served as Eucharistic Minister and Lector. He was an active member of Holy Name Parish and a former member and elder of the United Parish of Fall River. Mr. Keane conducted weekly Bible Study meetings and served Holy Communion to prisoners at the Bristol County House of Corrections. He sought to bring hope to inmates who otherwise had none.

True to his Irish heritage, Tom had the gift of storytelling and making people laugh. Tom and Louise enjoyed a lifelong friendship of travel and adventure with Robert and JoAnn Carr. Considered brothers, Tom and Bob shared a lifetime of friendly shenanigans.

His funeral will be held on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at 9am from the Waring-Sullivan Home at Cherry Place, 178 Winter St., Fall River followed by his Funeral Mass at 10am in Holy Name Church 709 Hanover St., Fall River. Visiting hours will be Tuesday from 4 to 8pm. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery in Fall River. Memorial contributions in his honor may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to a charity of your choice. For online registration and directions, please visit: www.waring-sullivan.com