J. Sean (James S.) Keenan died Friday, May 22, 2026. He was born in Akron, Ohio in November 1942. After attending schools in Akron and Cuyahoga Falls, he attended and graduated from St. Francis Seminary High School, Mt. Healthy, Ohio in 1960, Walsh College, North Canton, Ohio, in 1964, and the University of Notre Dame Law School, Notre Dame, Indiana in 1967. Sean served as an officer in the United States Navy at Naval Security Group Headquarters, Washington D.C. from 1968 until 1971.

Sean was an attorney with the Canton, Ohio law firm of Day, Ketterer, Raley, Wright & Rybolt (one of the oldest and most respected law firms in Ohio) from 1971 until his retirement in 2007. He was active in a number of civic and professional organizations in the Canton area (Walsh College Alumni Association, Notre Dame Club of Canton, Catholic Community League, Canton/Massillon Community Housing Resource Board, Canton Tomorrow, Inc., Tailspinners, Inc., City of Canton Oversight Committee, Stark County Health Planning Committee). After his retirement from Day Ketterer, Sean maintained an “Of Counsel” relationship with Day Ketterer. Subsequent to Day Ketterer’s dissolution in 2019, Sean founded Shamrock Legal Services. Though retired since early 2007, Sean was not inactive. He handled many matters pro bono, primarily under the auspices of Community Legal Aid for which he became Trustee in 2015. Sean considered it an honor to be an attorney and derived great satisfaction from helping individuals resolve their legal problems and questions.

Sean was preceded in death by his father and mother James A. (1998) and Marjorie A. (Rooney) Keenan (1996), his older sisters Carolyn Ann (2012) and Patricia Keenan Porta (2018), and his younger brother Terence Michael (1965).

Sean is survived by his former spouse Rose Mary (Lawler) Keenan; three beloved daughters Megan (Alexander), New York City, Bridget (Scott), Spokane, Washington, and Katherine (Ryan), Canton, Ohio; granddaughter Keely, and grandsons Charles, Rowan, Rylan and Daxton.

According to his wishes, Sean’s remains have been cremated and internment will be at a later date. Visitation and a brief memorial service will be held at Lamiell Funeral Home in Canton on Saturday May 30 at 11am.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity or to one of these fine organizations which were Sean’s favorites: Ara Parseghian Medical Research Fund, https://parseghianfund.nd.edu/; Community Legal Aid, www.communitylegalaid.org/; or the Stark County Humane Society, https://www.starkhumane.org/.

Condolences may be shared at: www.lamiellfuneralhome.com