Dr. John Keene

Dr. John G. Keene, known as Jack, died unexpectedly at his home in Rhinebeck on March 21, 2025, due to an exercise-associated cardiac dysrhythmia. He was 76.

Born in Southern Illinois on December 3, 1948, Jack was the youngest of three children of Roland and Evelyn (Evitts) Keene. He is survived by his wife, Dr. Mary (Mimi) Dunne, and their daughter, Catharine; his brother, Dr. Jim Keene; and many extended family members and dear friends. He was predeceased by his sister, Judith, on March 11.

A respected emergency physician and administrator, Jack began his career on the faculty of the University of Chicago, where he served as Emergency Medical Services Director for the city’s South Side. Working alongside paramedics and on the region’s first medical transport helicopter, he found deep purpose in bringing care to those in urgent need.

He later co-founded Emergency Treatment Associates, Inc., a physician group that pioneered best practices in emergency care across New York’s Hudson Valley. A national expert in emergency department administration, he taught for the American College of Emergency Physicians, published widely, and co-authored a text on emergency department management.

In 2016, Jack joined the palliative care practice his wife had founded years earlier, shifting his focus from high-acuity intervention to the time-intensive, deeply personal work of supporting patients and families facing serious illness and the end of life. He served on the Board of Directors of Hudson Valley Hospice, bringing decades of medical and administrative experience to the organization’s mission of compassionate care.

After long careers in clinical medicine, Jack and Mimi were honored to be 2019 Fellows in the Stanford University Distinguished Careers Institute (DCI). For the past two years, Jack served as a Visiting Scholar in the Stanford Medicine Department of Genetics.

An Eagle Scout and lifelong learner, Jack embraced the outdoors with enthusiasm. He built his beloved Hobie Cat sailboat on the shore of Lake Michigan and taught himself to sail from a book. He found joy in activities like camping, cycling, hiking, and water sports. Ever eager to try new experiences, he even took to the trapeze. Jack delighted in travel, museum visits, discovering new restaurants, and a competitive game of Boggle. Above all, he cherished time with family, especially the journeys around the world he shared with Mimi and Catharine.

Jack was known for his kindness, curiosity, and the warmth he extended to all who crossed his path. He approached each day with gratitude and enthusiasm, and his life reflected that spirit.

Donations in his memory may be made to the Hudson Valley Hospice Foundation or the DCI Research and Innovation Fund of Stanford University.

A private service was held for the family at Good Shepherd Church in Rhinebeck.