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Family Leadership Award

The Butala and O’Keefe Families

The Butala and O’Keefe families’ connection to ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ÊÓƵÎÞÏÞÖƹۿ´ spans multiple generations — beginning with the late Robert (Bob) O’Keefe ’55, P’84, who attended both Fairfield Prep and ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ÊÓƵÎÞÏÞÖƹۿ´. Bob had a deep appreciation for his experiences at Fairfield and remained an engaged member of the community throughout his life. He served on the Alumni Board for nearly 40 years and was an active member of the leadership committee for the Fairfield Rising Campaign. Together with his wife, Maureen, Bob also established the Robert F. and Maureen T. O’Keefe Scholarship to support engineering students at Fairfield.

As Bob and Maureen’s three children — Patrick ’84, P’15; Mary P’20; and Joseph P’27 —grew up, Bob often shared stories about his time at Fairfield and his love for the University with the family while gathered around the kitchen table. Many times, this led the family to further discussions on the importance of Jesuit values and the impact of giving back. These conversations made a lasting impression on each of them and resulted in a ripple effect through generations: many family members have become Stags and all of them share a familial commitment to philanthropic efforts.

Patrick O’Keefe ’84, P’15, Bob and Maureen’s eldest son, was the next O’Keefe to attend the University. Patrick came to campus excited to follow in his father’s footsteps while also making his own memories and lasting friendships, many of which were formed through his time on the Fairfield rugby club team. It was also at Fairfield that Patrick met his now wife, Karen (Occhipinti) O’Keefe ’84, P’15. Today, Patrick continues to stay involved with the rugby club through Friends of Fairfield Rugby, including his term as vice president. As StagMates, Patrick and Karen have also served on the Class of '84 Reunion Committee and were active members of the University’s Parent Leadership Council while their daughter was a student.

Each of Bob and Maureen’s children grew up with a deep appreciation for ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ÊÓƵÎÞÏÞÖƹۿ´ and its dedication to the Jesuit mission. Together with their parents and spouses, Patrick, Mary, and Joseph have passed this appreciation onto their children as well – and now they have three generations of Stags in the family. Patrick and Karen have four children; Kristin ’15, Katie, Sean, and Robby. Mary and her husband, John Butala P’20, have three children; Noreen ’20, Caitlin, and Timothy. Joseph and his wife, Wendy O’Keefe P’27, have two children; Jack ’27 and Lulu. Each member of the family has brought their unique interests to involvement with the University, resulting in diverse support and volunteer service for clubs, committees, and boards, including the Engineering Advisory Board. The Butala and O’Keefe families have been especially instrumental in supporting the advancement of the School of Engineering and Computing and the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies.

They also gives back to the University by supporting senior design engineering projects and hiring Stags for internship and employment opportunities through their family business: O’Keefe Controls Co., a manufacturer of precision orifices and fluid control devices, which Bob founded in 1975. In addition, the family has established a second scholarship fund, The Robert F. and Maureen T. O’Keefe Scholarship for Excellence in Nursing, which they formed in honor of Maureen’s career as a nurse. The family continues to support both of these scholarship funds as a tribute to Bob and Maureen.

The values instilled by Bob and Maureen continue to guide their family members' lives and commitment to philanthropy. As their children recently shared, “The example set by our mother and father demonstrated clearly that giving back is not a burden, but rather a joy. There are so many opportunities to give back: donations, certainly, but mentoring, board participation, hiring interns, and sponsoring teams too.”

The impact of their generosity will continue to inspire and influence future generations, both within the Butala and O'Keefe families and among incoming Fairfield students. As a leading example of parent and family leadership, the Butalas and O’Keefes are a testament to the spirit of Fairfield and the impact of a shared commitment to service.