Browse the obituary of residing in the province of Nouveau-Brunswick for funeral details
Obituary
On Monday, February 13, 2023, Duncan Joseph Keenan “slipped the surly bonds of Earth… reached out and touched the face of God.”
Duncan was born to James Joseph Keenan and Catherine Ann (MacDonald) Keenan on September 3, 1934. As a boy of seven, he would hop on the Saint John city bus and travel to the Saint John Library to borrow books on model aircraft and aircraft design.
Dunc graduated from Saint John Vocational School in 1951 and, in 1957, was the first person to graduate with an honors degree in Physics from St. Francis Xavier University. This was followed by a Masters degree in Physics from the University of New Brunswick and doctoral studies at Laval University in Quebec City.
He met his wife Theresa (McGowan) at a CYO dance in 1954 and, together, they went on to share sixty-three years of marriage, raising a physician and a lawyer (but no physicist).
Duncan taught Physics at UNB and St. FX before returning to Saint John, where he taught Enriched Physics at Saint John High School for twenty-five years. A dedicated educator, his students said that it was hard to fail “Uncle Dunc’s” physics class.
He wrote countless references for students applying to universities such as Cambridge, Harvard and MIT. Each year our doorway was tacked with cards from all over the world bringing greetings for Christmas, Hanukkah or Ramadan.
Duncan had equal passions for aerodynamics, speaking German and two-day-old black tea. He shared his brilliance, laughter and unconditional love with all who knew him. He will always be by our side.
He recently lost his wife Theresa, who left us this past November. He was also predeceased by his half-sisters Zita Owens and Leona Herrington, his half-brother James Keenan, his sisters Myrtle Colgan, Rosemary Higgins and his brother Alexander “Sandy” Keenan.
Duncan is survived by his son Rob Keenan (Holly), his daughter Lisa Keenan (David), and his grandchildren Julie (Robert), Mitchell (Ashley), Teresa, Dominic, and Hayden. He was looking forward to the birth of his first great-grandchild in May.
He is also survived by his brother, and best friend, Gerry “Homer” Keenan, Gerry’s wife Maura (McGloan) Keenan and his brother-in-law Robert “Bob” Higgins.
Visitation will take place at Fundy Funeral Home, 230 Westmorland Road (646-2424) on Friday, February 17th, between the hours of 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
A Mass of the Christian Burial will take place at noon on Saturday, February 18, 2023, at Stella Maris Catholic Church, 201 Bayside Drive in Saint John.
Interment and prayers for Duncan and Theresa Keenan will take place at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in the summer of 2023.
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February 13 2023
Death notice for the town of: Saint-John, Province: Nouveau-Brunswick
death notice Duncan J Keenan February 13 2023
obituaries notice Duncan J Keenan February 13 2023
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Duncan J Keenan February 13 2023 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
