James “Jim” Keegan

Jim Keegan, age 78, of Vero Beach, Florida died on April 10, 2025. He was born in Washington, D.C. on January 14, 1947, the first of five children into a blue collar, Irish Catholic family.

Following high school he located to Leesburg, Virginia, and drove a food delivery truck in order to supplement funds for college. He discovered Shepherd College in Shepherdstown, West Virginia on his delivery route and enrolled. In school he developed an interest in economics, particularly neoclassical economics, and its ability to create personal and societal wealth. He also developed a strong interest in Suzi, who became his wife of 55 years.

Jim and Suzi enrolled at West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia, for graduate school where Jim received his law degree and was a member of the Law Review.

Following graduation, he sought to pursue his interest in the bipartisan consensus that emerged to increase competition among regulated industries. He began a 26-year career at the Federal Communications Commission in Washington, D.C., mostly as the Chief of the Domestic Facilities Division. He supervised staff responsible for developing and implementing policies for domestic satellites, telephone terminal equipment, the divestiture of AT&T, and long-distance interconnection, among many other issues.

Jim was active in civic matters, serving as the President of Rock Creek Hills Citizens Association in Kensington, Maryland, and as the President of the Sea Oaks Property Owners Association in Vero Beach, Florida. He was an enthusiastic tennis and platform tennis player as a 50-year member of Aspen Hill Club in Silver Spring, Maryland, and a 22-year member of Sea Oaks Beach and Tennis Club, In Vero Beach.

Jim and Suzi enjoyed traveling, first to Ocean Club in the Bahamas and later to national parks throughout the U.S. and Canada. Europe was a favorite destination where many memories were made. A particularly memorable experience for Jim was visiting the modest grave of Adam Smith in Edinburgh, Scotland; he found the site did not have the dignity it deserved.
Jim is survived by his four siblings, seventeen nieces and nephews, and his wife and lifelong companion, Suzi.

He died of complications of prostate cancer.

A Mass will be held 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 500 Iris Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32963.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to VNA & Hospice Foundation, 920 37th Place, #101, Vero Beach, FL 32960.

Arrangements are by Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory, Vero Beach.