Daniel J. Keating, Jr., Chairman Emeritus of Daniel J. Keating Company, died at Bryn Mawr Hospital on August 15, 2009 at the age of 90.   

Born in Philadelphia and raised in Overbrook, Mr. Keating was the son of the late Daniel J. Keating, Sr. and Madeline O’Donnell Keating. He was the beloved husband of Eva Meehan Keating for 62 years.

After graduating from St. Leonard’s Academy elementary school, Mr. Keating attended St. Joseph’s Preparatory High School, where in 1937 he was recognized as the outstanding basketball player of the Catholic League. He was also a member of the All Catholic League Champion Team. Mr. Keating earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Villanova University in 1941.  During World War II, he served in the United States Navy as a Lieutenant Commander in the Seabees in the Pacific Theatre of Operations.

In 1951, Mr. Keating became president of the Daniel J. Keating Company, which was founded in 1911 by his father as a mechanical contracting firm.  Under Mr. Keating’s leadership, the Daniel J. Keating Company and Keating Building Corporation became two of the largest general construction firms in the nation. For the past 25 years, Mr. Keating has worked alongside his son Pierce Keating, Chairman of the Daniel J. Keating Company. Numerous well-known Philadelphia buildings were constructed by Daniel J. Keating Company, including the expansion of the Philadelphia Convention Center (presently a joint venture project with his son Daniel J. Keating, III), the Philadelphia International Airport, the National Constitution Center, and the renovations to Independence Hall and City Hall. Most recent projects in Philadelphia include the renovation of SEPTA’s Suburban Station Transit Center, Microsoft School of the Future, and the renovation of Memorial Hall for the Please Touch Museum.  The company has completed more than 1,000 projects across the United States and abroad.

Mr. Keating was a director of General Building Contractors Association of Eastern Pennsylvania and a member of the Board of Directors of First Pennsylvania Bank.

A parishioner of St. John Vianney Parish in Gladwyne, Mr. Keating was a devoted supporter of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.  He joined the Board of Trustees of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in 1977, and his expertise and resources in the construction business proved invaluable when he served as Chairman of the Buildings & Grounds Committee and the Finance Committee.  In 1975, he led the Catholic Charities Campaign as General Chairman, and he was Chairman of the Special Gifts program in 1982.  He also served on the Steering Committee of BLOCS (Business Leadership Organized for Catholic Schools).

Mr. Keating was responsible for the construction of the 35 foot, elevated altar used at the 41^st International Eucharistic Congress Papal Mass held at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia in 1976, where more than 500 priests concelebrated the Mass.  Mr. Keating converted one of his company’s construction lifts into an elevator to provide access to the massive altar.

Mr. Keating was the recipient of the 1987 American Catholic Historical Society’s prestigious Barry Award, in recognition of his contributions to the church, community, and profession.  He was awarded the Papal Honor of the Knight of the Order of St. Gregory the Great by Pope Paul VI.  He was a Steward of St. John Neumann, and was honored with the Borromeo Medal. He was a life-long member of the Men of Malvern.

Mr. Keating also received the Greater Philadelphia Area Leadership Award in 1993.

An avid golfer, he was a long-time member of the Philadelphia Country Club, and enjoyed spending time with his family at their summer residence in Longport, NJ. He was also a member of the Merion Cricket Club and a former member of the Union League.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Keating is survived by his devoted children, Daniel J. Keating III (Sarah), Eva McKendrick (Stephen), Nina Fisher (Anthony), and Pierce J. Keating (Mary Kathleen).  He is also survived by his only sister Margaret Mary Sherry and his 24 cherished grandchildren, Dan (Kristin), Michael, Patrick, Caroline, Connor, Hannah, Kiera, Alissa, Kaitlin, Maura, Stephanie, Eva, Tony, Zoe, Kristen, Kyle, Pierce, Chloe, Kimberly, Carly, Katrina, James, Kolbe and Luke.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Visitation on August 20, 2009, beginning at 8:30 AM, followed by a concelebrated Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM at St. Thomas of Villanova Church, 1229 W. Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA (on the University campus). Interment will be private.

The family would deeply appreciate that contributions in his name be made to Little Sisters of the Poor, 5300 Chester Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19143, or to the Sisters of the Carmelite Monastery, 1400 W. 66^th Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19126.