Obituary of Caron J. Keenan

Caron Joseph Keenan, age 84, of Fairfield, husband of Lynn (Goulding) Keenan, passed peacefully on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. Born and raised in Norwalk, Caron attended St. Mary's School, Norwalk, serving as an altar boy at St. Mary's Church. Intending to enter the priesthood, he went to Carmelite Junior Seminary, Hamilton, MA, for high school, graduating in 1957. He started college at Mount Carmel College and finished his B.A. at Fairfield University, Magna Cum Laude, Class of 1961. He received his M.A. in French at Assumption College, Worcester, MA, and taught at Turn of River Middle School in Stamford before joining Staples High School as a French and Latin teacher in 1967, later also becoming an assistant headmaster for library and media, and retiring in 1995. Caron was a passionate ham radio operator (WA1OMJ), helped run Staples' radio station WWPT, and was an early adopter of Apple computers, promoting computer labs in Westport schools and repairing Apple II(e)s and the first Macintoshes. He had a lifelong relationship with the country of France and, on a one-year sabbatical, lived in Rennes with his young family in 1974-75. He organized school exchanges there and made many close friends. He wrote a nonfiction book about American high schools for French audiences, Life in a High School (Hachette 1971). In retirement, he enjoyed researching his ancestors in the U.S., Quebec, and Ireland. His good friends include many Staples' teachers, his high school seminary buddies, and several families in France, especially the Berthous. Caron is survived by his wife of 59 years, Lynn Keenan; three children, Christine Fodor (and Gabor) of Fairfield, Kyle Keenan (and Ashlee), of Saint Augustine, FL, and Kevin Keenan (and Sarah Azaransky), of New York City; as well as grandchildren, Calli, Michael, and Daniel Fodor; Ryan Keenan; and Finn Keenan and Anna Lucy Azaransky. Other family includes the Sjodins, Kanes, Caskins, and Eckloffs. Caron's Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, at 10:30 a.m., at The Chapel at St. Pius X, 834 Brookside Drive, Fairfield. Burial will follow at St. John's Cemetery, Norwalk.