The Town of Edgewood is mourning the loss of its first elected Mayor, Lawrence (Larry) Keaty, who served from 1999 to 2001 and died Dec. 28 with family at his side.
Keaty, who was born in 1929, impacted the town of Edgewood in many transcendental ways. He was instrumental in establishing the initial town hall and rose to the challenge of navigating the formation of a new municipality with limited resources.
Mayor Keaty, who was an honored guest at Edgewood’s 25th Anniversary Founders Day celebration in July, established the community’s first town hall in two former classrooms of the Old Edgewood Schoolhouse. According to a press release, “with a bare bones budget and just the town clerk and himself, he did everything from navigating the detailed processes of establishing a municipality to answering phones.”
He also involved the citizens of Edgewood in the building process through volunteer work.
“Mayor Keaty led with enthusiasm and a genuine interest in bringing local control and services to Edgewood,” said Edgewood Community Liaison Linda Burke in a recent press release.
Friends, colleagues and family members remember him for his friendly and leader-like demeanor and honor his invaluable contribution to the Edgewood community.
“Mayor Keaty presided over some rambunctious early meetings but always worked to graciously address the diverse interests and concerns of Edgewood’s small but vocal community,” Burke said.
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Keaty moved to Albuquerque with his late wife, Celeste, in 1968 to pursue a career in early computer programming and education.
He retired after 20 years as an instructor at TVI (now CNM). Keaty and his late wife lived in Edgewood in the 1990s and early 2000s and later decided to move back to Albuquerque.
He leaves behind 11 children, 22 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.
“Dad always said his greatest honor was working alongside so many wonderful people in
Edgewood to incorporate the town,” said daughter Nancy Stone.
The details of the funeral services have not yet been announced.