Obituary of John M. Keeney

John M. "Jack" Keeney, 72, of 42 W. Fifth St. WE, died at 10:15 p.m. Saturday, March 9, 2013 in his home, surrounded by his loving family, following a brief battle with cancer. He was born August 31, 1940 in Wilkes Barre, Pa., a son of the late Vincent and Helen Brennan Keeney. Jack graduated from Brighton High School in 1958 and received his Bachelor's Degree from Cortland College in 1962. Since 1962, he had been employed by Panama Central School teaching physical education for 34 years and as Athletic Director for over 30 years, coached boys and girls track, boys basketball, baseball and volleyball, junior high basketball and swimming. Jack was also the Panama football coach for 33 years and had served as Chairman of the WNY Section 6 Football Federation. Following his retirement in 1996, he was honored in September of 1998 with the naming of the Jack Keeney Community Field at Panama Central School. He was also a past president and coach for Southwestern Area Youth Baseball. Jack considered it an honor, joy and privilege to serve the people of Celoron as Mayor, a position he presently held since his election in April of 2009. His greatest joy in retirement though, was being able to watch his beloved grandsons participation in sports, especially playing Southwestern Trojan Football. Jack is survived by his wife of 50 years, Mary E. Janetos Keeney, whom he married June 23, 1962; a daughter, Kristine K. (James) Swanson of Lakewood and a son, Michael J. (Maggie) Keeney of Lockport; five grandchildren: Nathan and Nicholas Swanson of Lakewood, Andrea McKoon of Jamestown, Brittany Keeney of Celoron, and Alyssa Keeney of Sugar Grove; two great-grandchildren, Conrad and Brooklyn; and a brother, Thomas (Kathy) Keeney of Woodstock, MD. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Thursday in Sacred Heart Catholic Church. The Rev. Msgr. Joseph M. Dowdell, pastor of Sacred Heart, the Rev. Todd Remick, pastor of St. Mary of Lourdes Catholic Church, and the Rev. Dr. Joan Brown Campbell, Chautauqua Institution Chaplain, will officiate. Burial will be in Sunset Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1 to 3 and 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in the Lind Funeral Home, where a Christian Wake Service will be led at 12:30 p.m. A time for remembrances and eulogy will be held at 8:00 p.m. Wednesday evening in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Jack Keeney Memorial Fund, c/o Panama Central School, 41 North St., Panama, NY 14767; or to the Celoron Hose Co. #1, P.O. Box 328, Celoron, NY 14720.