Obituary of Dr. David W. O'Keeffe

Loudonville-Dr. David W. O'Keeffe passed peacefully on June 15, 2021, at St. Peter's Hospital, Albany, NY at the age of 90. He was born August 18, 1930, the third child to the late Dr. John P. O'Keeffe and the late Nellie Campbell O'Keeffe at the former Brady Maternity Hospital in Albany, NY. He was the brother of the late Dr. John C. O'Keeffe of Loudonville, NY and the brother of the late Marion O'Keeffe Burke formerly of Cohoes, NY. He resided most of his life in the Albany area. He attended Miss Quinn's School and graduated from the Albany Academy in 1948 where he was Cadet Major and Captain of the football team. After receiving his B.A. from Williams College David earned his M.D. from the Yale School of Medicine. He returned to Albany where he met and married Diane Bell O'Keeffe his loving wife of 60 years. David completed his surgical residency at the Albany Medical Center Hospital serving as Chief Surgical Resident in 1963-1964. David then entered the Army for two years as a Captain and served in a medical MASH unit (Mobil Army Surgical Hospital) for one year in the 1st Calvary Division in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Upon returning to Albany in 1966, he established a private surgical practice and continued practicing for the next 33 years where caring for his patients was a priority. He also served for 19 years as the medical director at the St. Peter's Hospital Nursing and Rehab Center. In 1997, he was honored as "Physician of the Year" by the Board of Trustees of St. Peter's Hospital where he served as a member of several surgical committees. In 2012, Dr. O'Keeffe retired making it the first time in over 100 years that a member of his family including his father, mother, brother, sister, uncles and cousins had not been associated with St. Peter's Hospital. David loved the outdoors and thoroughly enjoyed hunting and fishing with family and friends in his beloved Adirondacks. He was a lifelong, avid fan of the New York Yankees and the New York Giants. He also enjoyed a good round of golf and playing gin rummy with his friends. He was very patriotic and loved his country. He was a devout member of the Catholic Church and proud of his Irish heritage. He and Diane enjoyed traveling the world during their marriage. Most of all, David was especially devoted to and enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren and he could always be found on the sidelines at many of their sporting events. He was a former member of The Albany Country Club, Wolfert's Roost Country Club, and the Albany University Club where he still holds the record for bowling a 299 game. David and Diane spent their recent years at Shaker Pointe, a senior retirement community, where the O'Keeffe family is grateful for the concern and attentiveness given their father by the staff and residents. David is survived by his beloved wife, Diane Evelyn Bell O'Keeffe, his adored three children; Lisa O'Keeffe Blue (John Tyler Blue) of Bethesda, MD; David Paul O'Keeffe (Ann Proctor O'Keeffe) of Hopkinton, NH; and Karen O'Keeffe Raidt (John Joseph Raidt) of Stamford, CT. He is also survived by eight grandchildren: Brooke, Ty (Gavin) and Campbell Blue; Colin, Evan and Catherine O'Keeffe; Patrick and James Raidt. As well as his brother-in-law Nelson C. Bell (Ann) and many nieces and nephews. David will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. He was an inspiration to so many and a very dedicated husband, father, grandfather and doctor. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Mass of Christian Burial at 11am, Tuesday morning, June 22nd, 2021 at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 498 Watervliet-Shaker Road, Latham. Calling hours at the church Tuesday, 9–11am. The funeral service will be officiated by David's nephew Reverend Fr. Geoffrey D. Burke. Interment will be private. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Dufresne & Cavanaugh Funeral Home, Latham, NY. In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation can be made in David's memory to The St. Peter's Hospital Foundation - 310 S. Manning Blvd. Albany, NY 12208 https://donate.givetostpeters.org/, or The Albany Academy Annual, 93 Academy Rd Albany, NY 12208 https://www.albanyacademies.org/giving/support-the-academies.