BoB KEENAN
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Bob was born in Chatham, the 3rd son of Ed and Clara Keenan. He attended St. Ursula Elementary School and graduated from John McGregor Secondary School in 1969.
After graduating, he decided on a trade as a tool and die maker. Following through with this trade he was employed at Superior Tool & Die for 34 years before moving on to various others endeavours and is still currently involved in the tooling trade on a part time basis.
In 1969 he met his Christine and has enjoyed 40 years of marriage. Together they have two daughters Lynette and Lori.
His love for hockey began at the age of six and continued to the age of nineteen in the Chatham Minor Hockey Association. Following that, hockey was played in the industrial leagues in Chatham and Blenheim. At the same time, during these years Bob was coaching boy’s minor hockey at the Tyke and Midget levels and girl’s hockey at all levels. His two daughters’ also benefited from his coaching in their softball leagues and ladies Slo-Pitch in the Maple City Slo-Pitch leagues.
Because of his background and passion for the game of hockey, he became involved with his brother Larry who was the equipment person for the Chatham Senior Maroons. Between them, they shellacked skates, packed bags for the road games, got players sticks organized and then could be found cleaning up after home games.
Later on his involvement came back into the Maroon organization again. This time he would be with the Junior Maroons when the Torrie family took over the ownership and the running of the team. Brother Larry was a member of the ownership team with the Torries and when the family decided to sell Larry put together the new ownership group and Bob continued right along with him. Finally, when Larry and his wife Sandy bought the team outright he stayed with them right through till they sold their interest to the current owners.
Bob could be found doing any job that would help out the team. When he was asked, he took on the responsibility of organizing and scheduling volunteers for many years. His friendly face was most often seen as soon as you entered the arena where he was manning the 50/50 ticket table at each home game.
During his years with Juniors, the Maroon Alumni was formed and believing that it would become a great organization to be involved with, he again volunteered his time. One of Bob’s favourite hobbies is woodworking and because of that he helped with construction of the many beautiful Maroon Legends Showcases that are in Memorial Arena. He was the builder of the Maroon Heart and Soul Wall of Fame board that graces the south end of Memorial Arena. Always the first to help out with Alumni projects he is still a main player in the Alumni golf Tournament that funds the Blades for Grades Scholarship Program for the Juniors.
He and Chris live at Rondeau Bay Estates and love to travel in their quiet time.