Eugene "Gene" Patrick Keegan, 90, passed away Saturday, November 5, 2016 at St. Camillus Health and Rehabilitation Center. Gene was born March 8, 1926 in Dublin, Ireland to Michael and Elizabeth Keegan. Gene and his family came to the North Side of Syracuse in the fall of 1926 and graduated from St. John the Baptist High School.
Gene served in the U.S. Army. Then he worked in the food and bar business all his life. He worked at the popular Tubbert's Restaurant for several years before opening Gene Keegan's on at the corner of Park and Mary Streets. In 1974 he and his wife Mary opened Keegan's Town House in Morrisville until he "semi-retired" in 1986, where he worked at Nibsy's Tavern, Lox Stock's and Bagels and Nojaim's Brothers Supermarket on Gifford Street.
Gene was a dedicated University of Notre Dame "Fighting Irish" fan; he attended several games in South Bend, Indiana, including the 1996 game in Dublin, Ireland with his family and friends. He was a member of the Notre Dame Club of Central New York/Syracuse. Gene married his wife, rock and caregiver, Mary Anne Morrone on July 26, 1970 in Norwich, New York. His Irish eyes were always smiling when he was with his grandchildren, Ella and Keegan Smith.
Gene is predeceased by his parents, Michael and Elizabeth, his sister, Patricia Hammond, and his brother, John "Jack" Keegan.
He is survived by wife, Mary (Morrone) Keegan, his daughters, Geneanne (Frank) Smith, Colleen Keegan, Kathleen (Derek) Woodmancy, Jeannie (Hal) Goodfriend, Kelly Keegan and Bridget Flynn, 11 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, sisters, Joan Nelipowitz and Betty Hardcastle (FL), brother, Donald (Ann) Keegan, and several nieces and nephews who loved their uncle Gene.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at 10 a.m. at St. Ann’s Church, 4471 Onondaga Blvd. Calling hours will be held on Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Edward J. Ryan and Son Funeral Home, 3180 Bellevue Ave. Burial will be in Veterans Memorial Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers donations in Gene’s memory may be made to the National PKU Alliance: PO BOX 501, Tomahawk, WI 54487 or npkua.org.
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