Obituary of Keith McNamara

Keith McNamara, age 63, passed away at home surrounded by his loving family after a courageous battle with esophageal cancer. He showed tremendous strength and was an inspiration to all who knew him. He was born and raised in East Hartford where he met and married his high school sweetheart, Diana Turner on June 7, 1968. Following his return from active duty with the Army Reserves in December, 1968 Keith began a career in banking with Hartford National Bank, now Bank of America. Keith went on to work as a Vice President at Glastonbury Bank in 1981, before being recruited in 1983 as president of Amity Bank at the age of 34. He continued in this capacity of president for the next six years. In 1986, he formed a bank holding company and acquired National Industrial Bank. Another accomplishment included the formation of a credit card program designed for affinity groups, which included the first alumni program for the University of CT. Keith finished his career in the mortgage banking side of the business, most recently in the capacity of Director of Industry Relations with CT Attorneys Title Insurance Company (CATIC), Rocky Hill, CT. Keith will be missed by Diana, who was his best friend, confidant and his wife of 44 years. They enjoyed many of the same things, which include Keith's beloved Yankees, NY Giants and UCONN Huskies. Their favorite winter getaway was to the beautiful island of Aruba, where they shared many wonderful memories with their crazy "Aruba Group". As an avid golfer, Keith spent 30 years making long lasting friendships with so many fellow golfers who loved the game as much as he did at Glastonbury Hills CC. Keith was past president of the GHCC Board of Directors in 1982-83. Keith will be sorely missed by his family in Glastonbury, which included his two daughters, Kelli and Shannon, their husbands and five grandchildren. Kelli (McNamara) and Paul LeGeyt and Shannon (McNamara) and Christopher Paolino. Grandchildren include Zachary, Jake and Kyle LeGeyt and twin granddaughters, Samantha and Julia Paolino. Keith would often be found playing with the grandkids or on the sidelines of their sporting events. Each year he would be at the bus stop for each of his grandsons to see them off on their first day of school. He was known to all of his grandchildren as "Pop Pop". They loved him dearly and always had a smile on their faces when he was around. He loved to spend "Pizza Night" and Wii dancing with his granddaughters. Keith leaves behind his brother Brian McNamara and sister-in-law Susan, who he loved with all his heart and his niece Amy McNamara Morris and her family. His sister-in-law Wendy Turner Williams along with her husband Rod and Keith's twin nephews Todd and Tom Raymond and their families will also miss Keith. He was predeceased by his parents, Francis B. and Florence (Dillon) McNamara and his older brother Francis "Butch" McNamara. Keith was a man who made lasting friendships and touched the lives of many. He was a philanthropist at heart, serving as President of the Jimmy Fund Council for a number of years and fundraising for other worthy causes such as Free To Breathe Lung Walk in memory of family friend Beth Kenny, and other causes too numerous to list. A special thank you to his caring chemo nurse Donna, as well as all of Dr. Timothy Hong's staff at the Helen & Harry Gray Cancer Center in Hartford. We want to thank the kind staff of CB2 at the Conklin Building for helping to transition his final care to home as he wished. Lastly, we always remember the compassion that was shown to him by the VNA Hospice angels: Eve, Tina, Andrea & Joyce. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday May 2, at 10am in St. Paul Church, 2577 Main St., Glastonbury. Burial will follow in Green Cemetery. Friends may call at the Mulryan Funeral Home, 725 Hebron Ave., Glastonbury on Tuesday May 1 from 4-7pm. We ask that in lieu of flowers you choose to donate to one of the below organizations in his memory: Helen & Harry Gray Cancer Center - 80 Seymour St, Hartford, CT 06102 or online: http://giving.harthosp.org/ and select Helen & Harry Gray Cancer Fund or to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168 Boston, MA 02284-9168 (p) 800.52.JIMMY(f) 617.632.4070 or on line https://www.kintera.org/site/c.kfINKTOzFqG/b.5517163/k.8AF4/Make_A_Gift/apps/ka/sd/donorcustom.asp and direct your donation to: Esophageal Cancer. To share a memory please visit www.mulryanfh.com.