Patrick Michael O'Keefe

Middletown, RI - Patrick Michael OKeefe, 59, of 19 Namquid Drive, Middletown, RI, formerly of 35 Extension Street, Newport, died Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at Newport Hospital, Newport, RI.He was the husband of Mary Rose Martin OKeefe. Born in New Rochelle, NY on July 27, 1949, he was the son of the late Edward and Sarah Scanlon OKeefe. Patrick was a research systems engineer for 3 years, at Alion Science Technology. He also worked at General Dynamics for 17 years as engineer and project manager, where he provided engineering and technical support to the development, fabrication, testing and deployment of the Interface Test Adapters ITAs, which are to be used with the AN/GSM-315A ATS and he provided liaison to NUWC customers by preparing cost estimates, project schedules and planning, monitoring project cost performance, and preparing monthly progress reports. Significant projects include: Mk 695 Mod 0 Lightweight Torpedo System Test Set LSTS; Hybrid Torpedo Software Testbed HTST; Sonar Analog Receiver SAR Test Set Mod Kits; AMPPS 1 AMPPS II, Sea Snake UT93 Array Telemetry Operator Control Console OCC fabrication; ADTS Prototype fabrication; ADCAP LSCF Hardware Support. Patrick was skilled at everything he took on, from his lifelong love of music playing acoustic, electric, and bass guitar, to his culinary wizardry that delighted his family and friends. He loved woodworking and the hours spent in his shop were among his happiest. Sports were his passion. He loved people, accepted them as they are and everyone who was befriended by Pat was made better for it.Besides his wife of 19 years and their dog Ruffie, he is survived by his brothers Edward OKeefe of Binghamton, NY and Neil OKeefe of Henderson, NV, aunts, uncles and numerous beloved cousins. His funeral will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2009, at 7:00 am from the Connors Funeral Home, 55 West Main Road, Portsmouth, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 8:00 am in St. Lucys Church, 909 West Main Road, Middletown. Burial will be in St. Columbas Cemetery in Middletown. Calling hours will be held Friday, May 15, 2009, from 4-7pm in the funeral home. Donations in his memory may be made to the American Cancer Society of Rhode Island, 931 Jefferson Blvd., Suite 3004, Warwick, RI 02886.