Keenan Remembered for His Musical Talent, 'Cheery' Personality

Friends and family will gather this week to mourn the , who died in a fatal car accident in Yorktown on Saturday. 

Keenan was less than a mile away from his home when, according to preliminary police investigation, his vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree. Police said speed was a factor in the accident, which was reported by a passing motorist at 2:26 a.m. on Aug. 4. Lt. Kevin Soravilla said the man was negotiating a curve in the road when, due to his speed, he lost control of his vehicle. 

Keenan was treated at the scene and transported by medical personnel to the Hudson Valley Hospital Center, where he was later pronounced dead.

The 2009  graduate was an avid skateboarder, aspiring musician and was pursuing his passion for music at a school in New York City. He had produced many songs, several of which he had posted online.

"Gray was very upbeat about his latest efforts to hone his skills mixing music and being a DJ, having recently begun studies at Dubspot, an electronic music and production school in New York City," said Jeffrey Veatch, whose son Justin was friends with Keenan. After his Justin's death, Veatch formed the Justin Veatch Fund, which offers scholarships, sponsors a summer music camp and year-round open mics.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made in the name of Graham Keenan to the Justin Veatch Fund. PO Box 1323, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598.

Keenan, who was also know to his friends as 'Gray,' was born in New Rochelle on Jan. 24, 1991 to Graham Jr. and Barbara Keenan. He was a skateboarder and was instrumental in petitioning town board members to establish a skate park in Yorktown. Through the efforts of Keenan, Veatch and their friends they succeeded in raising money for the creation of the Patriot Skateboard Park, which opened on Sept. 8, 2008.

"He was an avid skier and was loved by all who knew him," read an obituary posted on the Yorktown Funeral Home's website.

Jarryd Goodman, a fellow Yorktown High School graduate and a good friend, described Keenan as a cheery person who was always was smiling and laughing.

"He always contributed his own style and that's what made him cool," Goodman said.

The aspiring musician had been working on several tracks and posting some of his work online. To hear Keenan's music on Sound Cloud, click here. One person who listened to his track "bye bye black bird," which was posted six days ago, wrote: "Rest in peace Graham, [expletive] devestating. Hate that this is the last track I'll see on my incoming sounds from you, wish you hadn't removed all those songs from your cloud....love you!"

Keenan is survived by his parents Graham Jr. and Barbara, his brother Robert, his grandparents Graham Sr. and Carol Keenan, Marion Finn (Donald Neubert), Uncle’s; Robert Finn (Regina), Craig Keenan (Emory), Aunt Lesley Veile (Rick), and his beloved dog Frankie.

Family will receive friends at the on Tuesday, Aug. 7 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.. Funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday at 11 a.m.   

Please share your memories of Graham in the comments here if you would like. 

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