Robert Keating

Ambassador Keating was born on May 7th 1924 in Medford, Massachusetts. His parents, Patrick Joseph Keating (1885-1980) and Margaret O’Shea Keating (1889-1970) were born and raised in Cahirciveen, County Kerry, Ireland. Although they knew each other in Ireland, it was in the United States that they married. They raised their family of five children in the Boston area.

Robert Keating was preceded in death by his older sister Eileen Keating Ayvazian, by his older brother Edward, who died as an infant, and by his older brother John. He is survived by his twin sister, Margaret Keating Hayward, by his daughter Dr. Anne Brendon Keating, his granddaughter Olivia Hacker-Keating and by several nieces and nephews.

Mr. Keating was a member of the graduating class of 1947 at the U.S Naval Academy. Although they were officially the class of 1947, they were a part of an accelerated program that finished in 1946-in three years rather than four because of the Second World War. His Academy yearbook entry reads in part: “Keats’ consideration for others and fluent ability to make friends will inevitably bring success and happiness.” After receiving his commissions he was stationed with the allied Naval Forces Central Europe. During the Korean War he saw action while serving on the U.S.S Comstock.

Mr. Keating completed a Master’s degree in engineering administration from George Washington University in 1961. He then served as an international development consultant in several countries, including four years in Santiago, Chile as a Director of the Chile-California Program. This was part of the Alliance for Progress Program offered by the United States to Latin American nations.

Subsequently, Mr. Keating advised the Inter-American Development Bank on infrastructure projects and was Director General of Ministry of Roads under Mobuto Sese Seko, the late President of Ziare (now the Republic of Congo). In the early 1980’s, while serving as an international security consultant in the U.S Department of Defense, he helped draft the United Nation’s Law of the Sea. In 1983, President Ronald Reagan appointed him Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Madagascar and the Islamic Republic of the Comoros, where he served until 1986.

Mr. Keating was the Executive Director of the World Bank from 1986-1989.

Arrangements under the direction of Joseph Gawler's Sons Inc., Washington, DC.