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FRAMINGHAM – John Kenneth Kehoe passed away in the loving arms of his family on Sunday, October 24, 2021, in Framingham, Massachusetts.
John was born on August 25, 1947 in Natick, Massachusetts to Norman A. Kehoe and Georgia Stratigakis Kehoe. John was the second of Norman and Georgia’s four children and is survived by his older brother Norman, his sister Kathy, and his younger brother Thomas.
John was a decorated United States Army Special Forces Veteran. He was a two-time Purple Heart recipient from the US Army, which he received while serving two tours of duty in Vietnam.
Upon completing his service with the US Army, John landed in Watsonville, California and spent time living with his childhood best friend Raymond Ledoux and his wife Judy Ledoux in Santa Cruz.
Throughout his life, John demonstrated a passion for learning, and sought knowledge across a broad range of subjects
. In 1970, John began studying Liberal Arts/Music at Cabrillo College, where he would meet his first wife, Doris. Shortly after, John and Doris moved to Sacramento, where John simultaneously studied Business Law at California State University, Sacramento and Photography at the Glen Fishback School of Photography.
In addition to a passion for literature, photography, and Boston sports, John loved jazz and the blues.
In the 1980’s, John became the sole proprietor of a maintenance business he operated out of San Jose, California. It was during this time that both of his children, John Raymond Kehoe and Rachael Adele Kehoe, were born.
John imparted his passion for Boston sports onto his children from a young age. He and his family spent countless nights rewatching the most recent New England Patriots games, recorded on VHS and shipped from Framingham by his father, Norman.
In the 1990’s, John returned to Santa Cruz, California, to be closer to his children. Shortly after, his son moved in with him and, from then on, the two were inseparable. Weekdays were spent working out together for football, running, and lifting weights. Weekends often consisted of back-to-back trips to the movie theater and day-long video game binges, during which John enjoyed beating his children in Madden, PGA Tour, and Mortal Kombat, and he would often play into the middle of the night while his children slept.
John moved home to Framingham in the late 1990’s due to a health scare. Although across the country, John maintained close connections with both of his children. John and his children talked on the phone daily, and they frequently spent weeks vacationing with John in Massachusetts every year.
In 2001, while browsing the Yahoo literature message board, John became enamored by the poetry of Wendy Woodroffe. The two quickly developed a deep bond which naturally evolved into a long distance relationship. Wendy’s poetry and love for literature inspired John to write short stories about his past, providing an outlet for the mental and physical difficulties he had incurred while in Vietnam. Five years later, Wendy flew to Framingham on a three month leave to help take care of him following a surgery. John asked Wendy to marry him. The two were married on May 15th, 2006 in Framingham, where they would go on to spend the last 15 years of his life together.
Outside of his complete devotion to his wife and children, John demonstrated an unmatched capacity for love that was felt by all who knew him. He had a talent for conveying his love through photography. John was able to view the world through his lens in a way most people couldn’t with their own eyes.
John’s kindness and love enveloped every room he was in. Smiles and laughs were guaranteed in his presence. His sharp wit and dry humor, steeped in sarcasm, kept everyone on their toes. We were often left waiting to see if he was serious, pausing until his straight face would break into his characteristically sly smile, followed by his endearing and one-of-a-kind laugh. John had a talent for making you laugh until your cheeks hurt.
He is survived by his wife, Wendy Woodroffe Kehoe; son, John Raymond Kehoe; daughter, Rachael Adele Kehoe; Grandson, Isaiah Kehoe; Stepdaughters Kerry Tailford and Caroline Gaddy and Caroline’s daughters Victoria and Vanessa Gaddy; brother, Norman J. Kehoe; brother Thomas Kehoe and his wife Jeanne Dorsey; sister, Kathy Kehoe Lynch along with several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Norman A Kehoe, his mother Georgia Stratigakis Kehoe, and his brother-in-law William Lynch.
Family and friends will honor and remember John’s life by gathering for visiting hours in the McCarthy, McKinney & Lawler Funeral Home, 11 Lincoln St. Framingham on Thursday, November 4 from 5-7 p.m.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday morning in St. George Church, 74 School St. Saxonville, at 10 o’clock, followed by military honors outside the church.
Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, the family would ask that you make a donation to the Wounded Warrior Project in his memory, www.woundedwarriorproject.org.
McCarthy McKinney Lawler Funeral Home