Clare - O'Keeffe, Michael  April 5, 1931

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File contributed by: Frances MacPhail mcphee98@yahoo.com May 
2, 2019, 12:28 pm

O'KEEFFE, MICHAEL  APRIL 5, 1931

Boston Globe, Boston Massachusetts US April 6, 1931 Death 
occurred at 3:40 p.m. Arteriosclerosis. Certificate No. 
143891 Page 162.  

Michael O'Keeffe Dead At His Home - Founder of Chain Grocery 
Stores Which Bore Name

Michael O'Keeffe, founder of the chain system of grocery 
stores which bore his name before the merger with First 
National Stores, Inc. died yesterday at his home, 61 Pond 
St., Jamaica Plain, after an illness of several months.

The funeral will be held from his home Wednesday morning at 
10 with a solemn high mass of requiem at Our Lady of 
Lourdes' Church, Brookside Av., Jamaica Plain.

Mr. O'Keeffe had been the founder and head of the chain of 
O'Keeffe stores for more than 25 years before the merger of 
the system with First National Stores, Inc., and held that 
position until October, 1928, when he resigned because of 
illness.

Relieved of the exacting duties of president, Mr. O'Keeffe 
continued as a director of the corporation and as a member 
of the executive committee.

Born in Ennis, County Clare, Ire., Dec. 22, 1866, the son of 
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur O'Keeffe, he came to New York at the age 
of 19 and to Boston about 35 years ago.

His first job was as a clerk in a New York grocery store and 
he became interested in the business.  Displaying remarkable 
genius, he entered the business in Boston and built up his 
own chain, which was known throughout New England, and 
numbered more than 1500 stores.

He leaves five sons, Arthur, Gerald, Bernard, Adrian and 
Lionel O'Keeffe, and two daughters Mrs. J. L. Hurley and 
Miss Beatrice O'Keeffe.

Additional Comments: Son of Arthur and Catherine (Frawley) 
O'Keeffe of Barnanageeha, Ennis, Co. Clare, Ireland.  
Immigrated to New York City June 1886 and then to Boston 
Massachusetts early 1900's.