Robert T. Keating

Funeral services are private; there are no calling hours.  Brandon Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Quabbin Valley Healthcare, Resident Activity Fund, 821 Daniel Shays Highway, Athol, MA 01331.



Robert “Bob” Keating

Athol, MA – Robert Keating, 80, of Athol, MA passed away on April 29, 2018 after a brief illness.  He was born in Fitchburg, MA to Thomas and Dorothy (Minahan) Keating.

He is survived by his daughter Karen Keating and her daughter Sara of Carmel, IN; his son Paul Keating and his wife Kimberly and their children, Wesley and Jeneva of Warrington, PA; his sister Carolyn Roberts and her husband Brian of Fitchburg, MA; and two nieces, Nancy Roberts Roth and Susan Roberts Karlberg and a nephew, Michael Roberts.

He was predeceased by his former first wife, Jeanne; and his second wife, Carol of Athol in 2011.

Bob graduated from Notre Dame High School’s first graduating class in 1956 where he excelled in track and basketball.  He worked many years at the former Borden Chemical Company in Leominster.  After retirement from Borden’s, he and his wife, Carol resided for many years in Ormond Beach, FL where he “puttered” around golf courses part time doing maintenance work, which allowed him to occasionally play golf.

He was a passionate sports fan of all teams “Boston”, especially the Celtics and Red Sox, as well as the NE Patriots, along with local sports teams.  He had an uncanny knack of remembering details and scores of games dating back to his childhood.  He was in his glory on a recent tour of Gillette Stadium where he was taken by some of his friends at Quabbin Valley Healthcare in Athol where he currently resided.  On that trip he was also allowed to try on a Super Bowl ring, which made his day!  Another day he remembered with pride was when some other friends of Quabbin Valley Healthcare took him to a Red Sox game where together they cheered the team on to a victory!

Bob has been a resident of Quabbin Valley Healthcare for the past several years where he also took great pride in being the editor-in-chief of the resident quarterly newsletter regularly featuring highlights of other residents along with writing stories of regional interest and famous sports and national figures of the past.

The family would like to express our utmost appreciation and gratitude to the nurses and staff of Quabbin Valley Healthcare for taking him on day trips when he was healthier and for the love and care they provided Bob during his entire stay there and especially during the past months.