Denise Anne Kehoe

Denise Anne Dow Kehoe, age 88, of The Villages, Florida, passed away peacefully at home on August 15th, 2025.

Born on November 3, 1936, in Dover, New Jersey, to Richard and Veronica (Vera) Sweeney Dow, Denise grew up in Lake Hopatcong and graduated from Roxbury High School in 1954. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Science from Trenton State College in 1958, and in 1960 completed her Master's degree in Science Education, majoring in Physics, at Montclair State College — a program she attended on a full scholarship awarded by the Dreyfuss Foundation.

Denise dedicated much of her life to teaching high school math and science, touching the lives of thousands of students. Among her professional accomplishments were receiving Sustained Superior Performance Awards at Frankfurt American High School in Germany and Dover High School in New Jersey, introducing the Advanced Placement Physics course at Sparta High School, and founding and coaching Debate Clubs. She also taught at Randolph High School, Manasquan High School, and then retired from Ocean Township High School. She was passionate about helping students explore careers in science and nurturing student's passion for research. Under her guidance, students participated in programs such as the Munich Research Competition and Engineering Days at Rutgers University.

In 1959, Denise married the love of her life, William (Bill) Andrew Kehoe. They dated for five years and celebrated their marriage for 61 years. They shared a deep, joyful partnership — one built on mutual devotion, love, laughter, family and travel adventures. Denise embraced Bill's passion for sports, enjoying many games of tennis and rounds of golf together. She also enjoyed being part of the Audubon society, bird watching, painting, and playing mahjong.

One of her greatest joys was being a mother to her two children, in whom she instilled the values of love, curiosity, and integrity. From 1972-1976 her family moved to Frankfurt, Germany, where Bill worked as a civilian for the U.S. Army and Denise taught at Frankfurt American High School. Those years brought cherished memories of learning new languages and experiencing different cultures while traveling across Europe. Highlights included Christmas ski trips in the Alps and time in Spain, Greece, and, most especially, Italy — her favorite. Denise inspired in her children and grandchildren a love of learning and adventure that remains alive in them today.

Faith, kindness, and service shaped Denise's life. She supported charities such as Breast Cancer Awareness and the Deborah Hospital and believed deeply in living with compassion. As a devout Roman Catholic, she cherished the sacraments and found peace in prayer, especially in reciting the Hail Mary and turning to the Virgin Mary for guidance and comfort. In her later years, she also found delight in the simple joy of Hallmark movies, always drawn to the beauty of a good love story.

She leaves behind her children, Coleen Kehoe Hammitt and her husband John of The Villages, FL, and Patrick Kehoe and his wife Polly Warner of Denver, CO; three treasured grandchildren, Katherine Gray of Clark, NJ, Clare Kehoe of Hoboken, NJ, and Caroline Kehoe of Denver, CO; and her brothers with their partners, Peter and Micky Dow of Little Egg Harbor, NJ, and Dick Dow and Gil Rivera of the Bronx, NY.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to the American Heart Association (www.heart.org) in memory of Denise Kehoe.

Family and friends are invited to join in the funeral Mass for Denise at Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church in Rumson, NJ, at 10am on September 13, 2025. A Celebration of Life is also being planned in The Villages, Florida, with details to be announced at a later date.