By Harold Egeln
Brooklyn Daily Eagle

BAY RIDGE – Rosemarie O’Keefe, long active in the Bay Ridge civic and political communities and former commissioner of the Mayor’s Community Assistance Unit, has died of cancer at a hospice connected with Lutheran Medical Center.

O’Keefe was the first commissioner in that post created by then-Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, long a close friend and supporter of O’Keefe and her husband William O’Keefe, a retired police officer and fire lieutenant. Her passing and work was noted by an array of officials.

“The passing of my dear friend, Bay Ridge’s own Rosemarie O’Keefe, is truly a loss for Brooklyn and all of New York City,� said Borough President Marty Markowitz. “Rosemarie was beloved in her neighborhood, where she was a community activist, former Community Board 10 member, City Council candidate and a founder of the Alliance of Bay Ridge Block Associations.�

“But her talents and compassion for others reached well beyond Brooklyn during her service as Mayor Giuliani’s commissioner of the Mayor’s Community Assistance Unit. Rosemarie was there for New York City when we needed her the most, creating the 9/11 Family Assistance Center and advocating for others,� said Markowitz.

“I am grateful to have had the privilege of working with Rosemarie O’Keefe for many years toward the betterment of our community,� said state Sen. Marty Golden. “Be it cleanups on our avenues or in our parks, or fighting against crime or graffiti, or working on issues related to our community’s zoning, Roe was everywhere and did everything for the good of the neighborhood.�

O’Keefe also initiated and held some of the early Nights Out Against Crime in the 1980s and 1990s on her 75th Street (Bay Ridge Parkway) block.

“Rosemarie O’Keefe was cared about this community like no one else I know,� Golden said, praising her “spirit of service.� “Rosemarie was a woman who stood as a giant and who accomplished great things, one of the most dedicated public servants I have ever met.�

O’Keefe was active in the Republican Party as a member of the Armand Starace Republican Club, now the Bay Republican Club.

In a special election for City Council in February 2002, after former Councilman Golden defeated then-state Sen. Vincent Gentile for his senate post, O’Keefe ran as the Republican candidate against Gentile. Gentile narrowly won the City Council seat by a handful of votes, and he reached out to O’Keefe.

“While we were from different political parties, she and I were always on the same page when it came to putting community first and doing what was in the community’s best interest,� said Gentile.

“She lived that principle both in Bay Ridge and in her work citywide. Rosemarie lived a full life and many people benefited and were comforted by her work, especially after 9/11. I will miss her vibrant approach to life, but I will keep her memory in my heart forever,� said Gentile.

GOP Leaders Praise O’Keefe

Chair Craig Eaton of the Brooklyn Republican Party, long involved in Bay Ridge civic life, praised O’Keefe. “Her passion for politics and public service began as a constituent representative under state Sen. Christopher Mega and Congresswoman Susan Molinari, and continued as assistant deputy commissioner for the city Department of Parks and Recreation in 1994. Within one year, she became the Deputy Commissioner for Recreation.�

Eaton noted O’Keefe’s work as Community Assistance Commissioner during 9/11, providing service for over 60,000 families members and 250,000 individuals. “As a trusted member of Mayor Giuliani’s cabinet, she worked with all deputy mayors, elected officials, clergy and neighborhood organizations to develop and manage new initiatives to resolve community issues and broker partnerships between communities and the government,� Eaton said.

“Ro O’Keefe represented our community with honor and distinction throughout her life,� said Republican Bob Capano, currently running against Gentile for City Council. “She epitomized grassroots community involvement as a leader of our block associations, as an organizer of so many neighborhood cleanups.�

O’Keefe’s funeral mass was held Monday at St. Anselm’s R.C. Church. She was waked at Aievoli Funeral Home.

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