Obituary of Edmond Daniel Keating

Edmund Daniel Keating, 90, of Gulfport, FL and Ellington, CT, passed away Tuesday, April 21, 2020 after a short illness.  Ed leaves his loving wife of 65 years, Claire L. Keating, his three children, Maureen C. Keating of Ellington, CT, Michael J. Keating of South Windsor, CT and Daniel J. Keating and his wife Linda of Mayer, MN.  Ed will be greatly missed by his beloved grandchildren, Jessica O’Toole (Gregg), Jason Keating, Katelind Keating and Shannon Keating, and his great granddaughters Kassi and Isabelle O’Toole.  He also leaves his sister Mary Valinski, of Shrewsbury, MA and his brother Paul Keating, of Saunderstown, RI, many, many nieces and nephews and cousins both here and in Ireland and too many friends to count!  He was predeceased by his sister Kathleen Barrette.

Ed was born in Worcester, MA, to Patrick J. and Delia M. Keating on April 17, 1930. Ed graduated from St. John’s High School in Worcester, MA in 1949 where he was Captain of the basketball team and the baseball team.  In 2003 he was inducted into the St. John’s Athletic Hall of Fame.  He graduated from the College of The Holy Cross, Worcester, MA in 1953.

It was in Worcester, when he was 19 years old that he met the love of his life, Claire L. Jones, also of Worcester.  After college, Ed and Claire were married in 1955 and began their lives together.  They moved to Albany, NY where Ed became a top salesperson for Lederle a leading pharmaceutical company.

In 1962, Ed and Claire decided to make a big move.  They moved their family to South Windsor, CT and Ed took a job as one of the original eleven "brokers" opening the first Merrill Lynch office in Hartford. It was a big risk, but Ed worked hard while Claire raised “the kids”.  Ed enjoyed an extremely successful career making many milestones Merrill including being a member of the Charles E. Merrill Circle of Excellence for many years.  Ed was the founder and a core partner of The Keating Group at Merrill Lynch.  He and Claire travelled the world, and after a 44 year career Ed retired in 2006.

Ed was president of Ellington Ridge Country Club, Ellington, CT from 1978-1979 where he excelled at the game of golf, which was his passion.  He was a member of the Connecticut State Golf Association, and at one time he had a handicap of 4, of which he was very proud.  Ed and Claire made many close friends during the years of fun and socializing at The Club.

In 1981, Ed and Claire purchased their first home in Florida in the St. Petersburg area, where they still reside today.  Ed and Claire joined Pasadena Yacht and Country Club in Gulfport where, again, they have made many, many close friends with whom they shared years of laughter and fun. 

Because of the Coronavirus, we will be holding a Mass of Christian Burial and a Celebration of Life for Ed at some point this summer, when we can, hopefully, gather and remember him together.   Donations may be made in his name to the St. John’s Alumni Appeal, Shrewsbury, MA.

The care of Edmond and his family have been entrusted to David C. Gross Funeral Home in St. Petersburg