WASHINGTON, DC: Marilyn J. Keefe, 56, died on Thursday, November 13, 2014 surrounded by family and friends after a courageous battle with cancer. She was the beloved wife of Charles W. Gilligan, Jr.
Born in Providence, Rhode Island on October 24, 1958, she was the daughter of the late Clifford and Leona Keefe. She was a long time resident of Washington, DC. Marilyn was a 1980 graduate of Barnard College and also received a Masters in Public Policy from the University of Chicago in 1986 and a Masters of Public Health from Johns Hopkins University in 1993.
Ms. Keefe had until recently served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population Affairs in the United States Department of Health and Human Services, a position that she had held since 2010. Prior to that time, Ms. Keefe had been employed as a Director of Reproductive Health Policy at the National Partnership for Women & Families and as a Vice President for Public Policy at the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association. She was a tireless and effective advocate for women.
Marilyn was an incredible person - devoted wife and mother, who was a funny and spirited soul. She loved vacationing in the Caribbean and South Beach, Florida with her family. She had exquisite taste in home decorating and love to work in her gardens.
In addition to her husband of twenty-six years, she is survived by her son Ryan A. Keefe; two brothers, Richard Keefe and his wife, Debbie of New Rochelle, NY and Ronald Keefe and his wife, Debbie Smith of Basking Ridge, NJ; her in-laws, Charles W. and Joan (Raynes) Gilligan of Beverly; two sisters-in-law, Patricia Grondin and her husband, Kevin and Laurie Mott and her husband, Andrew all of Beverly and numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of her life will be held on Sunday, January 11, 2015 at The Whittemore House, Woman’s National Democratic Club, 1526 New Hampshire Ave., NW, Washington, DC at 11 a.m. Expressions of sympathy may be made in Marilyn’s memory to Johns Hopkins University, c/o Kimmel Cancer Center Development Office, 750 East Pratt St., Suite 1700, Baltimore, MD 21202 or online at (www.hopkinskimmelcancercenter.org) to support the bile duct cancer research of Dr. Nilofer Azad.