Gary and family,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and we extend our most sincere condolences at this difficult time.
Raymond Patrick McKeon |
Raymond Patrick McKeonFormer Chelmsford Police Superintendent;
Raymond Patrick McKeon, 82, of Nashua and former long time resident of Chelmsford, died Friday, April 22nd at his home surrounded by his loving family.
He was the beloved husband of 38 years to the late Eleanor “Ellie” (Smith) McKeon who died January 30, 1998. Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, January 18, 1934 a son of the late Raymond and the late Alice “Marion” (Cox) McKeon, he attended Lowell schools and was a graduate of Lowell High School in the Class of 1951. Eager to further his education, he then went on to graduate with High Honors from Northeastern University with a BS in Criminal Justice and later earned a M.Ed. from Cambridge College. He was also a graduate of the FBI’s National Academy, and was the president of the FBI’s Law Enforcement Executive Development Association. Raised in Lowell, Ray was an avid baseball player and played semipro baseball for a local team. A veteran of the Korean War, Ray proudly served his country in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1957. In 1962, Ray joined the Chelmsford Police Force; he rose through the ranks, eventually becoming Chief of Police in 1980. He was also the President of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association in 1990. A leader in law enforcement during his career, Ray was also a graduate of the FBI’s National Academy, and was the president of the FBI’s Law Enforcement Executive Development Association. In addition, Ray served on numerous boards and committees, and charities including: National Advisory Board of Chiefs of Police on Drugs, Attorney General's Task Force, AG’s Advisory Board, Middlesex County District AG’s Advisory Board, Mass. Chief of Police Assoc. (as Executive Board Chairman), Governor’s Anti-Crime Council, AG’s Demand Reduction Initiative Drug Committee, Jurisdiction Subcommittee of Court Facilities Council, Criminal Justice Summit Conference Committee, Mass. Bar Assoc., CORI board, Governor’s Advisory, American Jail Association. Very active in the community as well, Ray served on the Greater Lowell Boy Scouts of America (Executive Board), Merrimack Valley of Catholic Charities, Police Community Action Foundation (Founder and Director), Northeastern Alumni Club of Lowell (President), Merrimack Valley March of Dimes, American Cancer Society, Toys for Tots, Jimmy Fund, House for Hope, Chelmsford Scholarship Foundation. He was also a member of the Elks, Rotary International, and the Ancient Order of Hibernians. In addition, Ray was recognized for his many achievements and accomplishments as he received the Hail to the Chiefs Awards from the Lowell Lions Club in 1989, the Man of the Year from Chelmsford Lions Club in 1990, the Distinguished Citizen of the Year from the Greater Lowell Boy Scouts of America in 1993 and the Distinguished Veteran’s Award from the Greater Lowell Veterans in 1993. After his police career, Ray started a fulfilling teaching career at North Shore Community College and continued on to Middlesex Community College where he always received the highest evaluations and praises from his students. Ray is survived by his three children Brian McKeon and his wife Michelle of Pelham, NH, Susan McKeon and her husband James Tobatto of Green Bay, WI and Gary McKeon and Jennifer Shiller of Woburn, MA; his former daughter-in-law Melissa McKeon of Ayer, MA; his six grandchildren Katie Mahoney, Sarah Mahoney, Daniel Mahoney III and his fiancée Lauren McCarthy, Torrey McKeon, Madison McKeon and Casey Mckeon; his three great-grandchildren Kayla and Finnegan Moriarty and Cooper Harrison; his sister Marilyn Laderoute of Lowell, MA; his cousin Jack Halligan of Salem, NH; and several nieces and nephews. He was also brother of the late Robert McKeon of Lowell, MA. Friends may call at the O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME 276 PAWTUCKET ST. at Fletcher from 4 to 8 P.M. Wednesday. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Funeral Mass to be celebrated Thursday morning at ST. MARY PARISH in Chelmsford at 11 o’clock. Burial in St. Mary Cemetery in Tewksbury. E-condolences/directions at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Those wishing may make contributions in his memory to the Jimmy Fund, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Attn., Contribution Services, 6th Floor, 10 Brookline Place West, Brookline, MA 02445 or Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45250. Arrangements by Funeral Directors James F. O’Donnell, Jr. and John W. Crane (978 or 866) 458-8768.
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