John Francis “Frank” Keohane, of Westwood, MA., East Sandwich, MA., Sneem, Co Kerry, Ireland and Longboat Key, Florida passed away at 87 years old on May 27, 2023.
Frank grew up in West Roxbury and Jamaica Plain, graduating Boston College High School ’53, Boston College ’58 and Suffolk Law School, ‘68. Frank served on the Board of Trustees at Boston College High School for over a decade. Frank was a proud member of the McNeice Society at BC High and his generosity helped countless young men receive the same Jesuit education that formed him at BC High and BC in the 1950’s. A recipient of the St. Ignatius Award in 2007, the School’s highest honor, Frank dedicated his time, talent, and treasure to BC High throughout his life. His philanthropy can be seen in all corners of the school from scholarship and financial aid to global education, the arts, and athletics. Frank was deeply valued and loved by so many in the BC High community.
Frank was a long-term donor to Boston College and among other donations, established and funded the J. Frank and Elizabeth Keohane Scholarship Fund that continues to provide a full four-year education to students from the Boston area.
After Boston College and with a solid background in economics and (tax)law along with his work experience at the advent of the large scale data center era in the late 1960’s, Frank was a pioneer in the IT equipment finance industry, developing cost effective, lessee-friendly financial solutions that afforded thousands of companies across the USA and Europe to take advantage of the at-the-time great leap in technology. The company Frank founded in 1968, CSA Financial Corp, has underwritten billions of dollars of equipment lease financings, is based in Boston, MA and London, England and was managed successfully by Frank until only the last few weeks.
Frank served as a long term member on the Board of Directors of Wainwright Bank & Trust, a Boston based Bank that catered to all members of the Boston community until its sale to Eastern Bank in 2010. Frank was also an original and founding investor in 1989 in The PrivateBank in Chicago, Il that was acquired by CIBC Bank in 2017.
In 1985, Frank opened and operated Limerick’s Bar & Restaurant in Boston’s Financial District. In 1989, just around the corner Frank bought Brandy Pete’s restaurant at 260 Franklin St., a long time well known Boston based establishment which he owned and operated until 2022.
Frank was a forty year member of the Charles River Country Club, a Founding Member of the Ridge Club (East Sandwich, MA) as well as a member of the Waterville Golf Links, Waterville, Co. Kerry, Ireland.
Frank liked nothing better than to be either running on the beach or playing golf at his homes on the Cape, LBK or Ireland – whether it was summer or winter, rain or shine.
Predeceased by his parents John Keohane of Bantry Bay, Co. Cork, Ireland and Mary (Kelly) Keohane of Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, Ireland, and his older brother Cornelius (Connie). Frank leaves behind his wife of sixty-two wonderful years Elizabeth (Betsy) Power Keohane, his children Jeffrey (Jennifer) of Westwood, John F Keohane Jr. of Knightsbridge, London, England, Trevor Keohane (Andrea) of Dedham, and Walda Keohane of Westwood, and his grandchildren; Aidan, Elizabeth and Rory Keohane, Philip Jensen and Connor, Charlotte and Finnbar Keohane, and many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank Dr. Michael J. Barry, Dr. Anthony L. Zietman, and Dr. Edwin Choy, many other Doctors, all the Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Nurses, office support teams, the Palliative Care team and many others at Massachusetts General Hospital. The family would also like to thank Boston Private Nurses, the ER and Internal Medicine team at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Westwood Fire/Ambulance & Police. Lastly, the family would like to thank everyone at the Care Dimensions Hospice House in Lincoln, MA for their tremendous care and caring.
Funeral from George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 477 Washington Street, (Rt.16) Wellesley, on Thursday, June 1, at 8:45AM followed by a funeral Mass at St Ignatius of Loyola Church, 28 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, at 10AM. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Visiting hours at the funeral home on Wednesday, May 31, from 4-7pm. Interment in Holyhood Cemetery, 584 Heath Street, Chestnut Hill, MA.