Richard Keenan, Coventry Special Education Teacher, Coach, Dies at 68

Richard Keenan, 68, of Shady Valley Rd., passed away on Thursday, May 8, 2014, surrounded by his loving family. He was the beloved husband of 45 years to Maureen (White) Keenan.

Born in Providence, he was a son of the late Joseph and Rita (Sullivan) Keenan. Richard "Dick" Keenan was a special education teacher, school principal, and a school administrator. Richard graduated from LaSalle Academy (1963) in Providence, Long Island University (1969) and Rhode Island College (1987).

Whether it was taking the special education students on their yearly Disney World excursion or helping them gain employment, "Dick" was a true pioneer. He started the Washington Annex work study program and was an integral part of the Coventry School System for the last 38 years. The love of being an educator and being educated was his true passion, the result of his pursuits was his book he wrote "An Investigation Into The Retention Policy Of The Public Schools of Coventry Rhode Island".

After his retirement from the Coventry School System, he devoted the next seven years as the principal of St. Joseph School in West Warwick. He was the coach of the 1992 Coventry High School Boys Soccer championship team. He continued his love of soccer by coaching his grand daughters soccer team in the Coventry Soccer Association. When he was not in the classroom, the next favorite thing he loved to do was being "Poppy" to his two grandchildren, boating and water skiing on Johnson's Pond, where he grew up and spent his entire adult life.

Besides his wife, he leaves his children, Christopher M. Keenan (Kristin) and Michaela L. Keenan, all of Coventry and his grandchildren, Jordan Elizabeth and Zackary Adam. He was a brother of the late Joseph Keenan and Mary Moore.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial on Thursday at 10:00 am in SS. John and Paul Church, Coventry. Burial will be private. Visiting hours Wednesday 4-8 pm in the IANNOTTI Funeral Home, 415 Washington St. (Rte.117), Coventry. In lieu of flowers, donations to Lifespan Offices of Clinical Research Care of Dr. Howard Safran, 164 Summit Ave., Providence, RI 02906, Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association, PO Box 105, Glenolden, PA, 19036 or Tides Family Services, 215 Washington Street, West Warwick, RI 02893 would be appreciated.

From Iannotti Funeral Home