William Andrew Kehoe died Aug. 26 in Red Bank. He was 85 and had been suffering from a number of ailments, including Alzheimer’s disease. He is survived by his wife Denise Dow Kehoe, brother Joseph Kehoe, two children, Coleen Kehoe Hammitt and Patrick Kehoe, and three grandchildren, Kate Gray, Clare Kehoe and Caroline Kehoe.
He was predeceased by his parents, Julia Zalasky Kehoe and Joseph Kehoe.
Bill was born Nov. 30, 1934 in Dover. He graduated from Bailey Ellard High School where his yearbook honors included most popular, best looking and most athletic. Bill loved sports and was a three-sport athlete in high school, playing football, basketball and baseball. He would continue playing basketball and baseball for years, during which he earned “Homerun King” honors. Later in life he became an avid golfer who played on a regular basis, including in pro-am tournaments, and served as treasurer of the golf league at Shadow Lake Village. Bill also enjoyed bowling, betting on all sports, and supporting the Lancers softball team.
Bill had a long and successful career working as a civilian in the U.S. Army, largely at Picatinny Arsenal where he performed a variety of roles; earlier in his career he supported military payroll and then evolved to larger program management responsibilities. His work included a four-year tour in Frankfurt, Germany and wrapped up at Fort Monmouth. After retiring from Fort Monmouth, he supported electronic warfare programs with several large federal contractors. Throughout his career he received multiple sustained superior performance awards and recognition for his work ethic and contributions.
He was a devoted spouse to his wife Denise for over 61 years. Together they had two children, Coleen Kehoe Hammitt and Patrick Kehoe. A great family man who saw the best in all people, Bill was a fierce competitor, loving and supportive to family and friends, and a strong guiding force who was very active in his children’s lives – attentive to early parenting tasks, an active coach of their sports, encouraging them to achieve their highest potential and an inspirational voice of reason.
Bill had a wonderful sense of humor and always had a joke to tell. He loved his granddaughters and was so proud of what they have accomplished and told them they could be anything they wanted to be. He had a true caring spirit and zest for life that endeared all. He will live in our hearts forever.
The family held a wake Aug. 28 at John E. Day funeral home in Red Bank and the Roman Catholic funeral was held at the Church of the Nativity in Fair Haven Aug. 29 to celebrate his life.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent in Bill’s memory to Alzheimer’s New Jersey, 425 Eagle Rock Ave., #203, Roseland, NJ 07068.
The article originally appeared in the September 3 – 9, 2020 print edition of The Two River Times.
