Joe Keohane was the motivator, the mentor, the guiding voice in your ear, for two generations of youth sports spanning a half-century. In fact, the upper Little League field at Simonds Park bears his name. Coach Keohane died June 7, three days after his 97th birthday.
“He was great with kids and put their interests first,” says daughter Ellie Keohane. “He coached 50-plus years and won 19 championships. In 2010 he was inducted into the Massachusetts Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame, and then in 2011 he was honored by the town when they named the Simonds Park Little League field ‘Joe Keohane Field.’ Our family appreciated the turnout at Dad’s services, including so many former players and assistant coaches.”
A scene from Coach Keohane’s wake at Sullivan Funeral Home.
Sean Keohane, one of Joe’s grandsons, made this video three years ago.
Young Joe Keohane
Joe Keohane and his five sisters
Joe and Marilyn
Joe Keohane (standing) in Korea, recipient of the Korean Ambassador of Peace medal in 2017
Joe Keohane with his five sisters
Joe Jr., Joe Sr., Michael, Ellen, Marilyn, Paul, Dan, Anne
And now, all the teams! All team members are listed in random order, not photographic order. So the first person on the roster won’t necessarily be the first face on the top left.
If you see any outright misspellings or omissions, I’ll fix them — Robert Fahey, editor, 781-718-9872.
Baseball
1969 Baseball — Bob Armstrong, Bob Engel, Joe Keohane, Wolf-Dieter Krahn, Tom Ludwig, Ed Mitchell, Jim Sherman, Tom Levault, Joe Russo, Joe Strachan, Rich Kenny — Coaches Joe Keohane and Don Swanson1970 Baseball — Jeff Cowles, Tony Santullo, Joe Keohane, Tom Carr, Tom Ludwig, Ed Mitchell, Jim Sherman, Tom Silvia, Rich Kenny, John Miller, Bill Swanson, Steve Doyle, Steve Dignan, Brian Sullivan — Coaches Joe Keohane and Ed Sullivan1971 Baseball — Tom Carr, Jeff Cowles, Tony Santullo, Tom Silvia, Steve Burke, Steven Dignan, Ken Zimmerman, Bill Swanson, Brian Sullivan, Bruce Gillingham, Peter Collins, Fred Halbich, Kent Wall, Kevin Miller, Steve Doyle — Coaches Joe Keohane and Ed Sullivan1972 Baseball — Ken Connerty, Tom Carr, Tim Simpson, Jeff Cowles, Steven Chiodi, Steven Hagopian, Robert Jackson, Fred Halbich, David Silvia, Tony Santullo, Tom Silvia, Bobby Jackson, Kent Wall, Tim McDonough — Coaches Joe Keohane and Ed Sullivan1973 Baseball — Dennis Brophy, Art Griffin, Ken Connerty, Tim Simpson, David Swanson, Bobby Jackson, John Hughes, Scott Sebastian, J. Hagopian, Tim McDonough, John Creighton, David Shields, Gerry O’Donnell, John MacNeil, Dom DeLaPointe — Coaches Joe Keohane and Ed Sullivan1974 Baseball — Dennis Brophy, Dom DeLaPointe, Keith Purcell, John Hughes, Harry Thomasian, Kevin Orkney, Frank Creighton, Ty Foster, Skip Lang, John MacNeil, David Knowlton, Matt Davis, David Shields, Art Griffin, Gerry O’Donnell — Coaches Joe Keohane and Ed Sullivan1975 Baseball — David Bradley, Chuck Correia, Frank Creighton, Ty Foster, Mark Govino, Dave Knowlton, Skip Lang, Dave Mountain, Keith Purcell, Ken Reynolds, Mark Shields, Kevin Sullivan, Paul Thiel, Kevin Orkney — Coaches Joe Keohane and Ed Sullivan1976 Baseball — John Skehan, Kevin Sullivan, David Mountain, Ken Reynolds, David Bradley, Scott Erickson, Robert Digilio, Ed Kiley, Mark Govino, Bob Shannon, Rich Adolph, Brad Judson, Jay Barnes, Joe Perriello, Chris Lopolito1977 Baseball — Mike Bibbey, Mike Cronin, Brad Judson, Kevin McGowan, Jay Barnes, Richard Adolph, John Robinson, David Wood, Joe Perriello, Scott Erickson, Bob Shannon, John Skehan, Kari Shridharni, Robert Digilio — Coaches Joe Keohane and Tom Purcell1978 Baseball — Mike Bibbey, Mike Conin, Jeff Dion, Tom Guinee, Brad Judson, Kevin McGowan, Eric Ammidown, Mike Clifford, Chris Dodge, John Groves, Mike Keohane, Keith Morley, Paul Smith, Peter D’Eramo, Dave Wood — Coaches Joe Keohane and Tom Purcell1979 Baseball — Tom Guinee, Paul Russo, Mike Guanci, Ken Ryder, Joey O’Shea, Tony Rabaglia, Jeff Dion, Kris Lane, Chris Dodge, John Groves, Mike Clifford, Brian Cooney, Paul Keohane, Peter D’Eramo — Coaches Joe Keohane and Tom Purcell1980 Baseball — Paul Russo, Anthony DePalma, Mike Guanci, Ken Ryder, Joey O’Shea, Matt Haggerty, Jason Bandouveres, Kris Lane, Sean Coughlin, Chris Bramanti, Brian O’Toole, Mike Galli, Paul Keohane, Kevin Mulligan, Kevin Murphy — Coaches Joe Keohane and Tom Purcell1981 Baseball — Antony DePalma, Keith Barrett, Kevin Mulligan, Sean Coughlin, Kevin Murphy, Chris Bramanti, Tom Hanlon, Jeff Aronis, Jason Bandouveres, DeMattia, Michael Rich, Viscione, Scully, McDermott1982 Baseball — Keith Barrett, Tom Hanlon, Kevin Murphy, Kevin Mulligan, John McLaughlin, Brian Reynolds, Mike Skelton, Jeff Aronis, Jeff Smith, Mike Rich, Mark Sperando — Coaches Joe Keohane and Tom Purcell1983 Baseball — Mark Sperando, Shawn Garrett, Mark Tedesco, John DeCologero, John McLaughlin, Tony Orsini, Mike Skelton, Eric Dickie, Jeff Smith, Mike Cross, Kevin Kotelly, Jim Hapenny — Coaches Joe Keohane and Jack O’Donnell1984 Baseball — Steven Tyman, Shawn Gerrett, Steve Connors, John DeCologero, Dom Warrino, Tony Orsini, Shawn Jewer, Eric Dickey, Tim Hawley, Mike Cross, Kevin Kotelly, Sean Fitzpatrick — Coaches Joe Keohane and Jack Guilde and Len Orsini1985 Baseball — Steve Tyman, Pat Noonan, Steve Connors, Sean Fitzpatrick, Dom Warrino, Mike Shannon, Shawn Jewer, Mark Limonciello, Tim Hawley, Danny Ardito, Mark Giovaniello, Danny Crowell — Coaches Joe Keohane and Jack O’Donnell1987 Baseball — Ken Drollett, Michael Robitaille, Michael Archer, Chris Aronis, Mark Morneau, Andrew Miller, Gus Marino, John Pierce, Joe Reilly, Mike Skelton, Dan Ciampa, Ken Rindahl — Coaches Joe Keohane and Jack O’Donnell1988 Baseball — Brian Kilfoyle, Ken Kilfoyle, Luke Lemelin, Tim Malone, Sean McGee, Mark Sperandio, Michael Terelli, Nick Vamivakis, Chris Young, John Hynes, Hirohisa Futura, Mike D’Agostino — Coaches Joe Keohane and Jack O’Donnell1989 Baseball — Todd Carroll, Danny Gallagher, Matt Gordon, Jamie Wing, Chris Murray, Mike Santullo, Dennis Skelton, Mike D’Agostino, Peter Huse, John Hynes, Hirohisa Futura, Chris Young — Coaches Joe Keohane and Art Young1990 Baseball — Brian Kilfoyle, Tim Malone, Mark Sperandio, Nick Vamivakis, Chuck Angiolillo, Tommy Carlson, Jeff Moy, Joseph Rezendes, Mark Brine, Tim Byrne, Joshua Martin, Bobby Scammon, Jason Huberty — Coaches Joe Keohane and Art Young1991 Baseball — Tim Byrne, Mark Brine, Joshua Martin, Bobby Scammon, Peter Chen, Mike Tranchita, Dan Hersom, Jay Lynch, Jason Fregaso, Brian Finnegan, Eric Shannon, Tim Sherry, Chris York — Coaches Joe Keohane and Art Young1992 Baseball — David Abramo, Mike O’Brien, Luke Burns, Jay Lynch, Jason Fragosa, Eric Shannon, Tim Sherry, Craig Higden, Joshua Martin, Brian Martin, Tom Riley, Daniel Hersom, David Terrelle — Coaches Joe Keohane and Art Young1993 Baseball — David Abramo, Nick Biagotti, Luke Burns, Jason Fico, Derrick Daigle, Domenic Grossi, John Hanafin, Brian Kelley, Jarrett Lamb, Brian Martin, Tom Riley, Anthony Santullo, David Terrelle — Coaches Joe Keohane and Art Young1994 Baseball — Jason Fico, Brandon Daigle, John Hanafin, Brian Kelley, Anthony Santullo, Matt Cauldwell, Paul Monaco, Dan Preston, Chris Linskey, Sameer Parwani, Jay Huntoon — Coaches Joe Keohane and Art Young1995 Baseball — Jason Fico, Brandon Daigle, John Hanafin, Brian Kelley, Anthony Santullo, Nick Santullo, Matt Cauldwell, Paul Monaco, Dan Preston, Chris Linskey, Sameer Parwani, Jay Huntoon, Luke Burns — Coaches Joe Keohane and Tony Santullo1996 Baseball — J.J. Brigham, Brandon Daigle, Matt Derosa, Peter Arsenault, Kevin McNeil, Nick Santullo, Matt Caldwell, Paul Monaco, Dan Preston, Chris Linskey, Jay Huntoon, Sameer Parwani, Brian Kelly — Coaches Joe Keohane and Jeff Brigham1997 Baseball — Rich Biagotti, Brandon Daigle, Sameer Parwani, Jay Huntoon, Kevin McNeil, Dan Preston, J.J. Brigham, Matt DeRosa, Peter Arsenault, Matt Caldwell, Nick Santullo, Danny Hanafin, Mike Debye, Brian Durkin — Coaches Joe Keohane and Art Young1998 Baseball — Mike Debye, Derrick DiChappari, Joe DeRosa, Danny Hanafin, Brian Durkin, Paul Riccardo, Gerald Alicia, John Borgeson, Ryan Butler, Reid Jackson, Tom Pickett, Curtis Crocker, J.J. Brigham — Coaches Joe Keohane and Art Young1999 Baseball — Gerald Alecia, John Borgeson, Matt DeBarros, Sean Donahue, Reid Jackson, Tom Pickett, Nick Marchese, Ryan Butler, Matt Doyle, Bob Tomkins, David Portnoy, Chris Doherty, Connor Toomey — Coaches Joe Keohane and Jack Jackson2000 Baseball — Ryan Butler, Matt Doyle, Bob Tomkins, Chris Doherty, Mike Veggiano, Andrew Giatas, Connor Toomey, John DeSimone, Cody Costa, Greg Gough, Chris Noonan, Jared O’Connor — Coaches Joe Keohane, Art Young and Chuck Toomey2001 Baseball — Connor Toomey, John DeSimone, Dustin Fiore, Greg Gough, Chris Noonan, Jared O’Connor, Paul Kleem, Andy Andreatta, Pat Lyons, Bill Pepecelli, Dom DiPietro, Bryan Scrocca — Coaches Joe Keohane , Art Young, Tony DeSimone, Chuck Toomey2002 Baseball — Paul Kleem, Andy Andreatta, Pat Lyons, Bill Pepecelli, Dom DiPietro, Bryan Scrocca, Mike Hurynowicz, Jesse Restivo, Mike Scola, Ryan Murphy, Danny Bertolami, Mark Brothers — Coaches Joe Keohane, Art Young, Bill Hurynowicz, Paul Kleem2003 Baseball — Danny Murphy, Mark Jenkins, Brian Roberto, Zachary Carter, Brendan Farley, Brian Kichton, Mike Hurynowicz, Jesse Restivo, Mike Scola, Ryan Murphy, Danny Bertolami, Mark Brothers — Coaches Joe Keohane, Art Young, Bill Hurynowicz2004 Baseball — Danny Murphy, Mark Jenkins, Brian Roberto, Zachary Carter, Zach Hurynowicz, Lucas Restivo, Brian Bemis, Kyle Sullivan, Shane Matthews, Trevor Dutton, Danny Ayer, Stephen Hunt — Coaches Joe Keohane and Art Young2005 Baseball — Kyle Shields, Dalton Barrucci, Nick Ciardi, Trevor Cimino, Zach Hurynowicz, Lucas Restivo, Brian Bemis, Kyle Sullivan, Shane Matthews, Trevor Dutton, Nick DeSimino, Mark Melanson — Coaches Joe Keohane and Art Young2006 Baseball — Kyle Shields, Nick Ciardi, Trevor Cimino, Joe Piotti, Sean Cavanaugh, Dalton Barrucci, Nick DeSimone, Mark Melanson, Derek DeCastro, R.J. Caruso, Jake Matthews, Rich Dalton — Coaches Joe Keohane, Art Young and Dan Matthews2007 Baseball — Dalton Barrucci, Nick DeSimone, Derek DeCastro, R. J. Caruso, Jake Matthews, Rich Dalton, Eric Gilberg, Mike Gulesarian, Chris Mornewick, Nasi, Nikolopoulos, Joey Scali, Mike Kavalchuk — Coaches Joe Keohane, Art Young and Dan Matthews2008 Baseball — Dan Metzdorf, Ryan Sheldon, Giuseppe Mollica, Matt Dignan, Ryan Girouard, Matt Kergo, Mike Kavalchuk, Ibs Aburamman, Mike Gulesarian, Chris Mornewick, Nasi Nikolopoulos, Joey Scali — Coaches Joe Keohane, Art Young, Mike Girouard and Joe Scali2009 Baseball — Ryan Girouard, Anthony Nikolopoulos, Cam Feeley, Jason Smith, Max Paraskewas, Drew Rosberg, Tom Hanafin, Tom Lyons, Sean Daly, Tom Surabian, Josh Gildstein — Coaches Joe Keohane and Mike Girouard
Hockey
1967-68 Hockey — Tim Simpson, Joe Keohane, Donald Bent, Joe Barrett, Fred Blair, Walter Bridge, Jim Griffin, Brett Costa, Fred Graham, Sean Mellon, Ron Piccone, Rod MacKinnon — Coaches Joe Keohane and Jack Mellon
1969 Hockey — Joe Keohane, Jack Mellon, Tim Simpson, Mark Burke, Mark Griffin, Ron Piccone, Dave Piper, Fred Graham, Brett Costa, Rod MacKinnon, Nick Benishin, James Kevill — Coaches Joe Keohane and Jack Mellon
1970 Hockey — Scott Cowles, Joe Flaherty, David Swanson, Bob Downer, John Jones, Brian McSweeney, Kevin Miller, Mark Biamonte, John Peer, Ben Pascucci, John Hardy, Bob Taylor, Mike DeAngelis — Coaches Joe Keohane and Ed Sullivan
1971 Hockey — Carl Humphreys, Tom Fahey, David Knowlton, Tim Sheldon, Scott Glennon, Kevin Meek, Scott Fusco, David Nelson, Ed Pomphrett, John Callahan, Dana Demone, Kevin Browne, Eric Shute, Mike Roemer, Paul Currie, Rich Jackson — Coaches Joe Keohane and Ed Sullivan1971 Hockey — Scott Glennon, Scott Fusco, Mike Roemer, Dana Demone, David Nelson, John Callahan, Tim Sheldon, Tom Fahey, Paul Currie, Eric Shute, Kevin Browne, Rich Jackson, Ed Pomphrett, Carl Humphreys, David Knowlton — Coaches Joe Keohane and Ed Sullivan1972 Hockey — John Jones, David Nelson, Joe Sampson, John Peer, Jeff Gordon, Dave Shields, Tim Sheldon, David Knowlton, Kevin Dunn, Scott Fusco, Ty Foster, Mike Roemer, Gary Nazzarro, Brian MacSweeney — Coaches Joe Keohane and Ed Sullivan1974 Hockey — Tom Fahey, Bob Jay, Bill Meehan, Jon Donovan, Kevin Meek, Tom Hitchcock, Mike Girouard, Chris O’Reagan, Larry Stanton, Greg Bernard, Steve McLean, Mark Devereaux, Jeff Gordon — Coaches Joe Keohane and Ed Sullivan1975 Hockey — Mike Connolly, Al Gagne, Chris Farley, Mike Bibbey, Dave Lagetto, Walter Kane, Mark Driscoll, Kevin Curtin, Clay Mathieson, Ed Frazier, Mike Girouard, Bill Bieren, Steve Glennon — Coaches Joe Keohane and Ed Sullivan1976 Hockey — Don Jackson, Jim Shramek, Jim Collins, Clay Mathieson, Ed Frazier, Bob Ficociello, Mike Bibbey, Bill MacDonald, Bill Bieren, Al Gagne, Bill Hurynowicz, Brad Perry, Pat Rich, Chris Farley, Steve Soper — Coaches Joe Keohane and Ed Sullivan1977 Hockey — Mike Desimone, Jim Shramek, Kris Lane, Clay Mathieson, Ed Frazier, Bob Ficociello, Sean Glennon, Scott Perry, Bill Redfern, Mike Filosa, John Dillon, Rich Carr, Bob Carr, Bill MacDonald — Coaches Joe Keohane and Ed Sullivan1978 Hockey — Michael Daly, Chris Dodge, James Carr, Bill Redfern, Bob Carr, Bill Engel, Bill Flanagan, Kris Lane, Bill MacDonald — Coaches Joe Keohane and Ed SullivanHockey 1984 — David McDermott, Joel Coates, Derek Jackson, Stephen Kendig, Eric Jackson, Charley Bobbish, Todd Jackson — Coaches Joe Keohane and Don JacksonHockey 1985 — David McDermott, Joel Coates, Tony Dalessio, Steve Viglione, Derek McCann — Coaches Joe Keohane and Kevin Dunn1986 Hockey — Chris Boulin, Chris Bono, Ralph Bono, Mark Caliri, Derek Jackson, Derek McCann, Shane McGowan, Bob Smethurst — Coaches Joe Keohane and Kevin DunnNew England Whalers hockey — Bill Bacher, Scott Cerrato, Carl Cheney, Steve Ferraro, Sean Finnegan, Don Ganley, Matt Goulian, Tom Leahy, Jim Looney, Larry Mosessian, Mike Pinette, Mike Mills, Derek Sheehey, Tony St. Cyr, Brad Tenney, Jamie Judkins — Coaches Joe Keohane, Dick Lane
Softball
1977 Softball — Susan Alterisio, Cindy Brown, Kathy Brown, Sharon Coughlin, Laura Dellovo, Diane Dobson, Sharon Griffin, Karen Grutchfield, Ellen Keohane, Cheryl Lamarca, Karen LaVaccia, Donna Moore, Karen Parker, Lisa Patrick, Karen Roach, Diane Romeo, Cheryl Scott, Beverly Toland — Coaches Joe Keohane, Paul Coughlin
1979 Softball — Susan Alterisio, Cindy Brown, Sharon Coughlin, Laura Dellovo, Katie Griffin, Karen Grutchfield, Debbie Kelley, Jackie Landry, Mary Ellen Martel, Mary Markey, Susan McQuinn, Donna Moore, Lisa Patrick, Lisa Petragallo, Beverly Toland, Paula Thompson — Coaches Joe Keohane and Paul Coughlin
Keohane Field scoreboard Simonds Park Burlington, MA
Coach Keohane was my coach in 1964 and 1965, and was not only a great coach, but my main influence in both my love of baseball and later, devoting myself to a lifetime of sports journalism. In 1964, our Twins won the league title, and Coach Keohane took us for an exuberant ice cream sundae celebration. I said it was nice, but I’d rather have a trophy as you enjoy ice cream once, but ca enjoy a trophy forever, and a couple of other guys agreed. Coach then said, “if we win next year, you’ll all get trophies.” Maybe he wasn’t expecting it, but we won our second straight title in 1965 and true to his word, we all got a trophy. My first ever trophy is in my bedroom along with a few others, all due to one of the best coaches ever, and I’ve known many through the years.
What a well deserved tribute to Joe. It was a pleasure to coach against him!
Coach Keohane was my coach in 1964 and 1965, and was not only a great coach, but my main influence in both my love of baseball and later, devoting myself to a lifetime of sports journalism. In 1964, our Twins won the league title, and Coach Keohane took us for an exuberant ice cream sundae celebration. I said it was nice, but I’d rather have a trophy as you enjoy ice cream once, but ca enjoy a trophy forever, and a couple of other guys agreed. Coach then said, “if we win next year, you’ll all get trophies.” Maybe he wasn’t expecting it, but we won our second straight title in 1965 and true to his word, we all got a trophy. My first ever trophy is in my bedroom along with a few others, all due to one of the best coaches ever, and I’ve known many through the years.
Great article!! Amazing man.
Beautiful tribute to Joe ! Thank you.