John Keene graduated in 1980 from MVRHS, and has great memories of it. Even though he was quiet and shy, he always had a smile and was welcomed by both students and teachers in all his classes. After he graduated, he went on to college. However, his real dream was to stay on the Island and work in commercial fishing. College did not offer such a major. It did offer him an environmental degree and many opportunities to learn, and encouraged his love of traveling, primarily to Denmark. He and his family travel to Denmark almost every other summer and connect with his mother’s Danish roots.
While in college, he would return to the Island on weekends so he could work with a friend cutting and selling wood. This was no easy job. They would cut the wood, haul it on their backs, split it by hand, and stack the wood, but they loved it because they were working outdoors and making some money. After doing this for a while, John figured out that they could save themselves some backbreaking work by purchasing a tractor to haul the wood. As we talked, I noticed what a thinker and entrepreneur John is. A neighbor asked him to flatten his driveway with his tractor, and John received $100 in payment. “Hmm!” he thought. “Perhaps there are other opportunities for work,” so he purchased a bulldozer. The rest is history. John has built a respected and important Island excavating company, and provides a variety of land services and materials.
I had to ask John what happened to fulfilling his dream of commercial fishing. As it turns out, John connects with Island fishermen through serving as a leader of the M.V, Fishermen’s Preservation Trust, and other fishing organizations that preserve and protect their way of life. As we wrapped up our interview, John paused to say how much he misses the “old” Vineyard. I joined with him in commiserating the loss of so much kindness and respect that was commonplace at meetings and gatherings. Today we often see and hear such anger and disrespect at those very same meetings. “The Island was very kind to me growing up here. I want to make sure that we hold on to those roots that focused on such kindness,” he told me. Well said, John!
Marge Harris was a teacher at MVRHS for 27 years. She lives in Oak Bluffs. You can contact her at margeharris@comcast.net.
Well said.
Well it is about time to celebrate John! He has been outstanding in so many ways on this island .Thank you Marge for writing about him:)
Yes, beautiful perspective from two deeply invested and hard working leaders on our island. Thanks Marge and John!
John is simply a gift to all fish. Not to mention to the fishermen and the coastal fisheries and political developments. Perfectly paired with Shelley Edmundson and the Fishermen’s Preservation Trust.
John Keene is one of the kindest and very best people I have been lucky to know. He also gave me one of my favorite memories…riding in the cab of his big truck in the Fourth of July parade. Thanks for just being you, John. You make the world better.
John has been a role model to myself and many others for so many years, and continues to be to this day. He not only is wholesome and humble, he is a loving family man and everybody’s friend…especially when in need. Thank you John, for leading the way….
Sounds like a good guy and probably a great brother!
A better friend could not be had .
Comments are closed.