William P. Keating
SOUTH GRAFTON — William P. Keating, 71, of South Grafton, formerly of Framingham, passed away on Friday, January 13, 2012 after a long illness.
He leaves his wife of 21 years, Judith J. (Johnston) Keating; a son, Lawrence J. Keating of Framingham; a daughter, Laureen M. Dalton and her husband, B. Joseph Dalton of Worcester; a grandson, Luke A. Dalton; a step-daughter, Wendy Lee Keating of Hopkinton; two step-sons: Dr. Gary A. Webber and his wife, Cherryl Comas of Bolton, and Randal D. Webber and his wife, Cheryl of Auburn; nine step-grandchildren: Rebecca Lee Tilton, Amanda J. Tilton, Jason A. Webber, Sean M. Webber, Christopher Comas, Gregory Comas, Nicholas R. Webber, Christopher J. Webber, and Christopher Martin; two great-granddaughters; and three brothers: George Keating and his wife, Carole, of FL, Lawrence R. Keating, II of Clinton, and Philip J. Keating and his wife, Jane Taylor of Lancaster. His former wife, Laureen R. Keating, predeceased him.
Born and raised in Clinton, he was the son of the late Lawrence R. and Mary A. (O’Malley) Keating. He was a graduate of the last class of St. John’s High School from the Worcester campus, before it moved to Shrewsbury, and earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Mount St. Mary’s College, Emmitsburg, MD. After earning a Master’s Degree in Special Education, specializing in Education of the Blind, from Boston College, he worked for the Special Education Departments of Syracuse University Hospital Rehabilitation Center, Mecklenberg City Association for the Blind in Charlotte, NC. In addition, he taught mobility at the Daytona Beach, FL Department of Special Education, and St. Paul’s Rehabilitation Center, Newton, MA. Mr. Keating also worked for the Massachusetts Department of Special Education, and for Keefe Technical School. He then went on to earn a law degree from Suffolk University, and was in private practice in Framingham for 35 years.
A longtime member of Framingham Country Club, he was an avid golfer, and enjoyed fishing, refereeing football, and singing Irish music.
Mr. Keating’s funeral service will be held on Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 12:00 Noon in the McNally & Watson Funeral Home, 304 Church St., Clinton. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery, Clinton. Relatives and friends are invited to attend calling hours on Thursday morning, from 10:00 a.m. — 12:00 Noon, prior to the funeral service. For those who wish, the family suggests that memorial donations be made to the Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 799 West Boylston St., Worcester, MA 01606.
Source:Â http://www.thegraftonnews.com/obituaries/2012/obituaries/keating.htm, Viewed: 28 January 2012.
A situation arose in my professional life where I am without all the facts and details I need for a presentation I need to make, and I am reminded of a quote Mr. Keating shared with me, which then triggered the desire to look up what ever happened to Professor Keating. Sadly I found this announcement. But I still have a very fond memory I will share.
In 1983, while attending Babson College as a freshman, Professor Keating taught many of us business law. Not only did he teach all of us a great deal about the topic of law, but he kept the class engaging with examples of business using students as examples for parties to a contract. When referring to students Professor Keating would use the salutations of either “Ms______” for the women or “Brother _______” for the men. Professor Keating would call upon a student and ask questions regarding the previous night’s homework. Unlike other professors who would move onto a different student if a particular student was incorrect answering a question. Professor Keating would continue asking the same student follow up questions for a full 25 minutes. So every class 3 students were called upon. Well suffice to say, everyone studied hard to ensure if your day to be called upon came up you were ready. Maybe other students did not enjoy law as much as I did or maybe there was some other reason but most students made it to the 7 minute mark before they got stumped. So when my day arrived in late November 1983 I made it to minute 24 without a mistake; and when I was stumped, Professor Keating honored me with one of his compliments encouraging me to relax and think since he knew I was close to the answer and then I did get it right. While my 25 minutes were unfolding, I could hear my fellow classmates cheering me on as I had survived longer than any of them. After class ended, if you could see what happened to me, you would have thought I scored the winning soccer goal at the championship. I personally did very well in his class but then again I adored the subject matter so studying was enjoyable. After graduating Babson College and then working for 2 years (6 years later) I did apply to law school. Professor Keating very generously provided me at my request a letter of recommendation; a full 6 years after I shared his class. I can recall my last conversation when, after thanking him for the letter, I said “I am unsure if our paths will cross again so could you impart upon me any advice on how to be a great attorney?” His reply was “If you have the law on your side, argue the law, if you have the facts on your side, argue the facts, and if you got nothing then just make an argument”. Although my professional aspirations ultimately took me in another direction other than law, his great advice had application in many other circumstances.
I am grateful for having met Mr. Keating; and often smile when I think back to 1983 to that day I was called upon in his class and also for all the other law classes with Professor Keating that fall, and of course the last conversation I had with Mr. Keating and his wonderful advice.