Obituaries

"Consummate Volunteer" Jeffrey Keahon Died Today

Jeffrey Keahon of Pearl River died this morning at the Joe Raso Hospice Residence in New City. 

Keahon, who passed away at 10:45 a.m., was described by Jawonio CEO Jill Warner as “a man of singular distinction, and treasured Rockland County citizen.” Keahon, a lifelong Rockland resident, was known throughout the county for his many interests and volunteer activities.

Wyman-Fisher Funeral Home in Pearl River will be handling the funeral arrangements. Information is expected to be released on Thursday. 

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“Jeffrey’s entire life was devoted to service to others, he loved our county, he loved his country,” Warner recalled. “He was one of the most ardent supporters of mental illness and developmental disabilities, and his voice, and his will be missed. He served with distinction at Jawonio, and I will miss a very dear friend, mentor and individual who embodied service before self.” 

Keahon’s commitment to the county reached across many organizations. He served as president of The Historical Society of Rockland County and member of the American Revolutionary Roundtable, which afforded him the opportunity to portray historical figures such as Major John Andre and Henry Hudson during the commemoration of the explorer's voyage up the Hudson River. He was member of the Jawonio Board of Directors since 1992 and past president of both its New York and New Jersey boards. 

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Keahon’s community service included Rotary International. From 2008 to 2009, he held the post of District President for Rotary International District 7210 covering 66 communities and eight counties in the Hudson Valley and served as president of the Rotary Club of Pearl River and its scholarship foundation. He also served as president of the Nyack Hospital Foundation, Keep Rockland Beautiful, and Rockland YMCA. 

Keahon also held the positions of second vice president of the High Tor Animal Care Center, treasurer of Nami-Familya, a director of the Friends of the Orangetown Museum, the Rockland Community Foundation, Cornell Cooperative Extension and trustee of the Rockland YMCA.

Keahon helped raise money for organizations through his work as an auctioneer and as a public speaker. He received numerous awards including: Philanthropist of the Year from the Rockland Development Council; Friends Award from Jawonio; the Joseph R. Bernstein Award from The Mental Health Association; The Distinguished Citizen Award from the Association for the Visually Impaired and the Rockland Leaders Award For The Arthritis Foundation.

According to Warner, Keahon graduated from Georgetown University in 1965 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and then traveled to Alaska, where he worked as a Vista volunteer and administrator with the Alaska Rural Development Agency. Keahon served as United States Specialist First Class with the 387th Transportation Battalion in Vietnam.

He taught Western civilization to high school students for four years while working as secretary/treasurer with Keahon Brothers, Inc., a concrete company established in the 1930s by his father and two uncles.

 

 

 


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