John J. O’Keefe, 79, an editor of educational materials and a World War II veteran, died Tuesday in his son’s home in Sterling, Ill. Born and raised in Stamford, Conn., Mr. O’Keefe graduated from St. Bonaventure College in Olean, N.Y., where he was commissioned as an officer in the ROTC. Mr. O’Keefe earned the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Army during World War II, commanding a tank destroyer battalion. He moved to Chicago in 1955, serving for over 20 years as editor-in-chief of testing publications at SRA, an educational publisher. He had lived in Evanston since the mid-’60s. Survivors include his wife, Lucinda O’Keefe; five sons, John, Kevin, Thomas, Dennis, and William; four daughters, Anastasia, Anne McCarthy, Sharon Starkman, and Patricia O’Brien; and 19 grandchildren. Mass will be said at 10 a.m. Saturday in St. Athanasius Church, 1615 Lincoln St., Evanston.
