We Remember: Hubert Keenan (Grandpa)

Hubert Keenan
Born: March 20, 1907, St. Lawrence County, New York
Died: November 14, 1984, North Lawrence, New York
Relation to Author: Grandfather

To be honest, I don't have many memories of Grandpa. He died when I was 4 years old. I remember the act of visiting him in the hospital before he died, but I don't have a picture of him in that memory. And I remember the funeral and afterward, the feelings of confusion about the idea of death.

The one visual image I do have is of him in the cushy rocking chair that used to sit by the front door at the house on Desmond Street. And maybe I have an image of him at the head of the table (in front of the window) at dinners.

Though I don't have many memories, I do have some pictures, like the one above. I have always loved these pictures - probably because I don't have many memories. This is me and grandpa in the rocking chair I previously mentioned. I am 15 months old (which probably means it was taken at Thanksgiving - one of our usual North Country visiting times), which means the picture is from 1981.

So for me, the pictures substitute for solid memories. But there are many in the family that do have strong memories of him. If you want to share your memories of Hubert / Hub / Grandpa, let me know (and I'll include it as a guest "We Remember" post). In the meantime, enjoy the pictures (bonus below where Hub has a big smile and I am squirming).