RAYMOND P. O'KEEFE

Raymond P. O'Keefe, Professor of Law Emeritus, a lawyer and Law Professor for more than 40 years in New York and Florida, died at home January 22nd at the age of 78. A longtime resident of Larchmont, NY, he moved to Florida in 1984 and, in 1998, to Kure Beach, NC.

Professor O'Keefe was born and raised in the Bronx. Overcoming many obstacles, he graduated in 1950 from St. Michael's College in Winooski, VT and Fordham University School of Law in 1953, where he won many awards and was elected Class President. Just two years later, Mr. O'Keefe joined the Fordham Law faculty, becoming the youngest tenured professor in the school's history.

In 1999, he was awarded The Humanitarian Award by Fordham, an honor that held special value for him. From 1955 to 1984, Mr. O'Keefe practiced trial law in New York City and Westchester. In 1984, he resumed teaching full-time as a Professor of Law at the St. Thomas University School of Law in Miami. During his 14 years at St. Thomas, he was routinely voted the most popular professor by the student body.

After retiring from teaching in 1998, Mr. O'Keefe moved to Kure Beach, NC. Following the credo: “Trust God, Clean House and Help Others“, Mr. O'Keefe was active in many organizations and fellowships. He was well known for his work with the New York State Bar Association, where he was Chairman of the Committee on Lawyer Alcoholism. He also worked tirelessly on issues relating to alcoholism in the legal profession with the ABA and ILAA.

Beyond his many honors and accomplishments, Mr. O'Keefe was a vibrant, gregarious man who loved a good story, thick books and eliciting the laughter of those around him. He was a good man. He will be missed.

Mr. O'Keefe is survived by his wife of 51 years, Stephanie (Fitzpatrick); his children, Michael of Los Angeles; William (Catherine) of Mamaroneck; Ann Bave (John) of Larchmont; Kevin (Erin) of Manhattan; Mary O'Neill (Michael) of Los Angeles; James (Margaret) of Portland, Maine; and John of New Rochelle; as well as eleven grandchildren. His brother William and both his sisters Marie and Beatrice predeceased him.

The family will receive friends at the John J. Fox Funeral Home, Inc. in Larchmont, NY Thursday, January 26 from 7-9 pm and Friday, January 27 from 2-4 and 7-9 pm. Mass of Christian Burial Saturday, January 28 at 10 am at St. Augustine Church in Larchmont. Interment is private. In lieu of flowers, the O'Keefe family requests that donations be made to Larchmont Friends of the Family, Box 746 Larchmont, NY 10538.

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