Robert Keough

Robert P. Keough   August 23, 1942—April 11, 2024

Robert was born and raised in Syracuse, NY to Catherine (Ryan) and Joseph Keough, and older brother Richard. Robert spent his adult years in Alfred, Rochester, and Long Lake, NY.

After graduating from Rochester Institute of Technology with his BFA in Photography, Robert joined the Navy and trained to be an officer in the USNR. After a year assigned out of Norfolk, VA his second ship the US Tutuila, a large repair ship was sent to Vietnam. As a navigation officer, deep sea diver, and recovery officer he had many varying experiences.Robert returned to RIT for a Masters in Fine Arts in Graphic Design. As a graduate student, he started off his life of teaching in which he held two full professorships and was awarded professor emeritus at retirement.

From 1969 to 1983 Robert was at Alfred State College in the Engineering College where he helped establish an early computer design program. Robert finished his last 19 years teaching at RIt where he again helped establish the Computer Design program in the Fine Arts Master program. Robert enjoyed students from all over the world.

During these years he also taught many summer workshops as the technology grew. Robert so enjoyed being on the International faculty of the Banff School in Alberta, Canada teaching photography. He did a Visiting Professorship at Indiana State in Terre Haute. There he met a faculty member who was added to the family, Nancy Ciolek.

Robert loved the history of photography, the Arctic, the US Civil War, American History, and Irish history ancient and present. With his love of history, he was part of an Albany area Civil War naval reenactment group in the early 2000s and later became an active member of the Sons of the Union Veterans Camp Willard #154. They would tend graves in the Albany rural and Troy cemeteries.

Robert was an active member of the Lions of Long Lake for many years, a member of the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Hamilton County, and a member of the Long Lake Historical Society. In connection with his varied interests, he was a member of several naval historical societies.

Robert loved to dive into projects of research and in all these, he would make friends of like interests. There were many former students he stayed close to, especially Dave Davis of Baltimore.

Retirement brought Robert the time to work on his computer art, often montages of images and designs. These were a joy for him to create and a joy for others to view. Robert loved spending his retirement years in Long Lake with its beauty. Always finding new interests through friends he’d visit every morning at the Stewart’s Shop. Long Lake was home.

Barbara Kellogg Keough and Robert were married for 59 years and as best friends one was not often seen without the other. Together they raised three daughters with happy times and adventures as a close family.

Robert is survived by his wife Barbara, and daughters Lydia Keough Walter (Thomas) of Rochester, NY, and Althea Guss (Jamie) of New York City. With six grandchildren and one great-grandson, Robert was brought the joys of being a Grandfather. These include Erin Roelle (Thomas), Luna Walter, Catherine Walter, Connor Millar, Lucy Guss, Annabel Guss, and great-grandson Devin Roelle. Also, survived by a dear cousin Linda Fiumara, and nieces and nephews in Syracuse and Florida. Robert was predeceased by his brother Richard Keough and daughter Ursula Keough. Internment will be in late summer.

The family would like to thank the C. R. Wood Cancer Center at Glens Falls Hospital, especially Dr. C. Mason and the nurses and staff. 

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