Advocate of local journalism taught generations at Merrimack College
Published June 2, 2021
WAKEFIELD — Robert Daniel “Buddy” Keohan, age 89, a longtime Wakefield resident, died Saturday, May 29, 2021.
Born in Wakefield on January 7, 1932, he was the son of the late Daniel and Honora (Regan) Keohan.
Buddy was a 1949 graduate of St. Patrick High School in Stoneham, where he was awarded the scholarship medal for having attained the highest honors for four years. Before that, Buddy was a 1945 graduate of St. Joseph School in Wakefield.
Buddy would go on to graduate from Merrimack College (1953), walking with the second graduating class from the school. He received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. While a student at Merrimack, he served as sports editor of The Warrior, was a member of the Fraternity of the Holy Name and the Young Democrats. Buddy was a member of the varsity tennis team and served as president of the Tennis Club in his junior and senior years. He continued his education at Boston University, receiving a master’s degree in Journalism in 1954 and a master’s degree in English Literature in 1964.
Buddy worked for the Wakefield Daily Item for 52 years and was the writer of the paper’s daily “Looking Backward” column. He was a strong proponent of local reporting and his coverage was both in-depth and award-winning. His output for each issue was prodigious, to say the least. The paper’s staff will miss his dedication, his guidance and his great sense of humor.
He was an associate professor at Merrimack College for 56 years and taught English literature and newswriting. Buddy served as the college’s first sports publicity director (now called a sports information director) and was a member of Sigma Delta Chi, the national professional journalism fraternity.
A lifelong learner, he loved reading books on literature and history and magazines about current events and sports.
Buddy was a tennis fanatic who ran several tournaments in town over the course of any given year. As the Daily Item’s tennis editor, he would promote it at every turn and was at the forefront when the sport took off in the 1970s.
Buddy would win press tournaments at the Longwood Cricket Club when it was an annual stop on the pro tennis tour.
He was also an avid golfer, enjoying various local courses that included his beloved Candlewood Golf Course in Ipswich.
He was the loving father of Adele Keohan of Sharon and Linda Keohan and her husband John McA’Nulty of Westford. He was the adoring grandfather of Robert, Sarah and Kate. He is also survived by his former wife Patricia Stockbridge.
His funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Joseph Church, 173 Albion St., Wakefield on Friday at 10 a.m. Visitation for relatives and friends will be held at the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield on Thursday from 5-7 p.m. Interment will be Forest Glade Cemetery, Wakefield. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Merrimack College w c/o The Merrimack Fund, 315 Turnpike St., North Andover, MA 01845.
