After a long illness, Stuart Keenan (87 years old) passed peacefully in his sleep on December 24th. Stu was born and raised in Oneonta.
He was predeceased by his parents, Stuart M Keenan Sr and Helen S. Fisher Keenan, and a sister Nancy Keenan Macey.
Upon graduation from Oneonta High School in 1950, he began work at Schenectady General Electric. His 38 years at GE were interrupted by military service during the Korean war. During this time, he was trained at a medical center and received commendation for his efforts.
Stu was a regular blood and apheresis donor during his lifetime. He donated 252 units of blood and regularly donated platelets from 1991-2003.
Stu was always up for an adventure and loved the outdoors, traveling, dogs and playing cards. He had difficulty doing "nothing". Into his 80's, he enjoyed skiing, biking, swimming, hiking, hunting and camping. He shared his love of the outdoors with his children and grandchildren by taking them skiing, watching their games and swim meets. He treasured his annual hunting trip with Dave Stafford, Bob Stuart and Bob Lange. He was an original member of the backwoods ski club (North Creek Ski Bowl and Gore Mountain). His yearly trip to Colorado included skiing and visiting his sister Nancy. Among his favorite hiking trips were the Northville Lake Placid trail and 37 high peaks in the Adirondacks.
After retirement, Stu and Mary Lou Stevens Keenan, his wife of 66 years, biked throughout the US and extensively throughout New York State. They expanded into biking overseas with 8 trips in 6 different countries. They also hiked the Milford Trek in New Zealand and the foothills near Mt. Everest in Nepal.
He and Mary Lou took each grandchild on an unique trip to a foreign country. Stu will be missed by his wife, children; Catharine Keenan (Queensbury); Christie and Ken Gignac (Haddon Township, NJ); Robert and Dawn Keenan (Queensbury) and Carol and Michael Terwilliger (Niskayuna) and his grandchildren Kellie Gignac, Gwen Gignac, Nicholas Keenan, Samuel Keenan, Hannah Keenan, Emma Terwilliger and Abbie Terwilliger.
Special thanks to Dr. John Pezzulo, Nicole Canfield and Schenectady County Hospice for their dedication to Stuart's care.
Services will be held in the spring at the Saratoga National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to:
Schenectady Community Hospice 310 S. Manning Blvd. Albany NY 12208 https://www.communityhospice.org/donate
American Red Cross 33 Everett Road Albany NY 12205 Donate to blood services https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html/
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Stuart Keenan, please visit our floral store.