Retired Lowell Police Sergeant and United States Army Veteran, Michael Timothy “Mickey” O’Keefe, age 75, a lifelong Lowellian, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 14th, 2023 after a long battle with dementia. In his final hours at the Bedford Veterans Affairs Medical Center, he was surrounded by his loved ones and the VA staff who treated him as their own.
Mickey was born and raised in Lowell, MA as the youngest of nine siblings. He attended Saint Peter’s Elementary and was a proud graduate of Lowell High School, Class of 1967. While at Lowell High, he met the love of his life and his wife of almost 54 years, Donna (Perrault) O’Keefe. His perseverance and warm-hearted nature were evident even in his teenage years, as he convinced Donna to go on a date with him, winning her heart and unsurprisingly, the hearts of the entire Perrault family. The two married in 1969 and raised their four sons on Billerica Street: Shaun, Timothy, Brian, and Keith.
Mickey played many roles in his life: police officer, veteran, hero, boxer, champion, trainer, movie star, comedian, and Lowell legend. He served on the Lowell Police force for almost 34 years, earning the rank of Sergeant and receiving multiple medals for his lifesaving heroics. He was an avid runner, trainer, and fitness enthusiast whose notoriously difficult workouts could knock down the best of them. In the ring, he won both a Silver Mittens and a Golden Gloves championship, though his proudest achievements were the countless young athletes he trained, including “Irish” Micky Ward. For his dedication to the sport of boxing and the youth that it serves, he was recently awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Golden Gloves of America.
Many years after he retired his boxing gloves, Mark Wahlberg convinced him to play himself in The Fighter. From then on, he was “Hollywood Gramps” to his ten grandchildren, signing autographs and earning the status of local celebrity. He remained the family movie star long after his Hollywood debut — complete with his own (remarkably accurate) bobble head coined by the Lowell Spinners.
Mickey loved coffee rolls and ice cream and felt dessert should be involved before, during, or after any meal. He paid no attention to the age-old police versus fire rivalry and was often found lounging at the Branch Street Firehouse with his fellow friends in uniform. He loved weekly breakfasts at the Owl Diner with his high school friends, where he surely didn’t mind seeing his favorite waitress.
His vocabulary was extensive and he knew more curse words than most people learn in their lifetime. Amid his jokes and endless stream of profanities, he had the biggest heart for his family and beyond. The O’Keefe household was known for its revolving door: if there was ever a kid that needed help, the O’Keefes would never turn them away. Mickey was determined to help anyone and everyone, regardless of the circumstance. He most certainly touched countless lives and has left an immeasurable impact on the city of Lowell and those who had the privilege to meet him. In the words of Mickey himself: “it’s all good”.
Mickey is survived by his loving wife, Donna O’Keefe, who still resides in Lowell, MA, and his four sons, Shaun O’Keefe of Lowell, MA, Tim and Kathy O’Keefe of Nashua, NH, Brian and Michele O’Keefe of Bedford, NH, and Keith Dillon of Bedford, NH. “Hollywood Gramps” will be dearly missed by his ten grandchildren, Kaleigh, Brendan, Emily, Michael, Meghan, Molly, Liam, Jack, Ella, and Nichole; as well as by many nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers and sisters in law, his beloved godchildren, and friends, notably, Tommy Dowling and Allison Shanley, both of whom he would describe as family. He was predeceased by his eight older siblings.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to: The Monastery of St. Clare, 445 River Road, Andover, MA 01810.
On Tuesday, September 19, 2023 all are welcome to attend his calling hours from 4-8 p.m. at McDonough Funeral Home, 14 Highland Street, Lowell 978-458-6816.
His funeral will begin on Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. in the funeral home, followed by his funeral mass at 10 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Church, 144 East Merrimack Street, Lowell. Procession will follow for burial and military honors at Lowell Cemetery on Knapp Ave. in Lowell.