Remembering Denis Keegan, a Hero for Kids With Cancer

Denis Keegan was enthusiastic about St. Baldrick’s from the start.

I first met Denis, then Chief Development Officer at the National Childhood Cancer Foundation, when he hired me in 1997. He was an excellent mentor, ending his career with more than 40 years in successful nonprofit development work. He also became a treasured friend, who set me on the road to what has become my life’s most important work.

In 1999, Denis first heard from John Bender and Enda McDonnell, founders of what has become St. Baldrick’s. They were planning an event for St. Patrick’s Day in 2000 to raise $17,000 for childhood cancer research, and the question was, “Can you take the donations, so we can tell donors where the money is going?” Not everyone would have said yes to strangers who planned to shave heads in a bar, but Denis did — and the event raised more than $104,000. Being of proud Irish descent, Denis was enthusiastic about St. Baldrick’s from the start.

After the second event raised more than $140,000 in 2001, Denis asked if the volunteers would like a staff person to help them expand the event beyond the original circle of colleagues in the reinsurance industry. They agreed, and Denis asked Kathleen Ruddy, newly hired as Director of Major Gifts, to work with them. The rest is history. Kathleen is now CEO of the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which has granted more than $150 million for childhood cancer research.

Denis courageously fought a rare genetic kidney disease for many years, and passed away surrounded by a very loving family on November 10.

When I spoke with family members at Denis’s memorial service, I was not surprised to learn that many of them were unaware of the role he had played in what has become the biggest funder of childhood cancer research aside from the U.S. government. His focus was always on others — helping them to achieve what they were meant to do.

We will miss Denis’s wisdom, his sense of humor, and his genuine good nature. Most of all, we will miss our friend.

Like Denis, you can be a hero for kids with cancer. Get involved today.

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