Murray C. Keene Jr., known far and wide as “Toppy,” died March 21, 2017, one day shy of his 73rd birthday, at the Jupiter Medical Center in Jupiter, Florida. He had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the summer of 2015 and was still going strong until recently.

Murray was born on March 22, 1944, in Boothbay Harbor, Maine, the only child of Murray Calhoun Keene and Eldena Farnham Keene. Early on, the family lived above the old Jordan’s Restaurant on Commercial Street but eventually moved to a home on School Street in Boothbay Harbor. Murray returned to that home when he moved back to Boothbay Harbor in 1992 and lived there for several years until he moved to Muirgen in Boothbay, where he spent his summers until his death.

Murray attended Boothbay Elementary School and graduated in 1962 from Boothbay Region High School. He was president of his senior class. An athlete who was on the track team for four years, he set a school record in the high jump, a record which stood for many years.

During his summer vacations, Murray worked as a part-time stern man for Pat Elderkin; a helper and boat driver for Mrs. Robinson Sawyer Whitten of Juniper Point; and manager of the old Texaco gas station near the Boothbay Common.

He went on to attend Boston University and graduated in 1966. He then moved to Washington, D.C. to do graduate work at American University. During the next 25 years in Washington, he worked at several different places, always specializing in public relations and communications. He put his natural talents to good use at such places as the United Giver’s Fund; the Project Hope Ship; the American Society of Civil Engineers; the National Association of Social Workers; Hauck & Associates; and the American Horticultural Society where he edited a high gloss monthly magazine for many years. His final job before full retirement was as executive director of the Maine Chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association.

In retirement, he split his time between Boothbay, Maine and Tequesta, Florida. He made the move in 1998 to Jupiter/Tequesta as a snowbird and was one of the original founders of the Treasure Coast Men’s Tennis League (ages 50 and up). He was also the team captain for the Jupiter Bay Tennis Team within the league for 17 years.

He was married and divorced twice. In 1966, he married Roxanne Giles of Massachusetts and in 1989, he married Sarah Burke of Virginia.

Murray is survived by his cousin, Ardath Farnham Wood of Vassalboro, Maine; his half-brother, Wayne Keene of East Boothbay, Maine; his honey of more than 15 years, Carolyn M. Schwartz of Tequesta, Florida; his beloved dog, Seabreeze; and a number of close, longtime friends.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father; his infant half-brother, Kerry; his former wife, Sarah Burke; and his close friends, Pat Elderkin and Captain R.T. Manning.

Murray will be remembered for many things, including his smile and wry sense of humor; his skill on the tennis court; his unique way of looking at the world; his love of dogs; and his loyalty to his friends.

A memorial service for Murray will be held this summer in Boothbay Harbor.

In lieu of flowers, it is suggested that memorial donations may be sent either to the Boothbay Region Student Aid Fund, P.O. Box 293, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538 or the Lincoln County Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 7, Edgecomb, ME 04556.