AUBURN - Mr. William H. McKeon, 85, of 56 Kearney Ave., Auburn, passed away Friday, Oct. 7, 2005.
A native and lifelong Auburnian, Mr. McKeon was a lifetime member of Holy Family Church, a graduate of Holy Family High School, the University of Detroit and Fordham University School of Law. He was a practicing attorney in the City of Auburn for 45 years.
An Army veteran of World War II, he had served in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France and Germany.
Mr. McKeon was a former chairman of the Cayuga County Chapter of the American Red Cross, a former member and past-president of the Cayuga County Bar Association, trustee and vice chairman of the Cayuga County Community College Board of Trustees. He was a charter member of the local Ancient Order of Hibernians. He held life memberships with the Knights of Columbus, Elks, and the Utopia Club. He was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1975 and the American Legion. An avid golfer, Mr. McKeon was a member of the Auburn Golf and Country Club.
An important part of his life was his passionate devotion to the Democratic Party. Known as ”Mr. Democrat,“ he was the Cayuga County Democratic Party chairman from 1953-1974. He was the State of New York Democratic Party chairman from 1962-1965, and a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968 and 1976. Mr. McKeon served as Auburn city clerk from 1965-1974, and served as counsel to several committees of the State of New York Legislature. From 1974 through 1983, he served as a member of the State of New York Board of Elections, and was an original member of the board.
He is survived by his wife, Ann Donovan McKeon, whom he married on June 16, 1951, in Holy Family Church; and their six children, David (Linda) McKeon of Camillus, City Court Judge Michael (Diane) McKeon of Auburn, Kathleen (Edmund) Neal of Sturbridge, Mass., Maureen (Jim) Yacko of Dayville, Conn., Teresa (Royd) Oberg of Tewksbury, Mass., Brian (Liz) McKeon of Washington, D.C.; 10 grandchildren, Brian, Kathryn, Margaret-Kelly, Meghan and Daniel McKeon, Kerry, Cailin and Conor Neal, Scott and Jeffrey Oberg; a sister, Jane Dodge of Auburn; three brothers, Robert McKeon of New York City, John McKeon of Clearwater, Fla., Paul Connors of Holiday, Fla.; several nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was predeceased by a brother, Richard McKeon; and a very special family, William and Mildred Rolan.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, in Holy Family Church, with the Rev. Dennis J. Shaw, pastor, as celebrant. Interment will be in St. Joseph's Cemetery. Calling hours will be held 2 to 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 10, in Holy Family Church.
Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Family Church, 85 North St., Auburn, or the Cayuga Community College Foundation, 197 Franklin St., Auburn.
Arrangements are by Farrell's Funeral Service Inc., 84 South St., Auburn.
An Army veteran of World War II, he had served in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France and Germany.
Mr. McKeon was a former chairman of the Cayuga County Chapter of the American Red Cross, a former member and past-president of the Cayuga County Bar Association, trustee and vice chairman of the Cayuga County Community College Board of Trustees. He was a charter member of the local Ancient Order of Hibernians. He held life memberships with the Knights of Columbus, Elks, and the Utopia Club. He was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1975 and the American Legion. An avid golfer, Mr. McKeon was a member of the Auburn Golf and Country Club.
An important part of his life was his passionate devotion to the Democratic Party. Known as ”Mr. Democrat,“ he was the Cayuga County Democratic Party chairman from 1953-1974. He was the State of New York Democratic Party chairman from 1962-1965, and a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968 and 1976. Mr. McKeon served as Auburn city clerk from 1965-1974, and served as counsel to several committees of the State of New York Legislature. From 1974 through 1983, he served as a member of the State of New York Board of Elections, and was an original member of the board.
He is survived by his wife, Ann Donovan McKeon, whom he married on June 16, 1951, in Holy Family Church; and their six children, David (Linda) McKeon of Camillus, City Court Judge Michael (Diane) McKeon of Auburn, Kathleen (Edmund) Neal of Sturbridge, Mass., Maureen (Jim) Yacko of Dayville, Conn., Teresa (Royd) Oberg of Tewksbury, Mass., Brian (Liz) McKeon of Washington, D.C.; 10 grandchildren, Brian, Kathryn, Margaret-Kelly, Meghan and Daniel McKeon, Kerry, Cailin and Conor Neal, Scott and Jeffrey Oberg; a sister, Jane Dodge of Auburn; three brothers, Robert McKeon of New York City, John McKeon of Clearwater, Fla., Paul Connors of Holiday, Fla.; several nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was predeceased by a brother, Richard McKeon; and a very special family, William and Mildred Rolan.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, in Holy Family Church, with the Rev. Dennis J. Shaw, pastor, as celebrant. Interment will be in St. Joseph's Cemetery. Calling hours will be held 2 to 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 10, in Holy Family Church.
Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Family Church, 85 North St., Auburn, or the Cayuga Community College Foundation, 197 Franklin St., Auburn.
Arrangements are by Farrell's Funeral Service Inc., 84 South St., Auburn.
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