Ken Keoughan, 81, of Newcastle, Maine passed away on January 13, 2018, at home as a result of congestive heart failure. Born on March 11, 1936 in Denver, Colorado, he was the son of Sidney Floyd Keoughan, Sr. and Hazel Horne Keoughan. In 1939 the family moved to LaGrange, Illinois where Ken attended local schools before attending Cornell University, graduating as a member of the class of 1958.

After leaving Cornell, Ken moved to New York City and began a life-long career in advertising. He started with Benton & Bowles where he became a media specialist; identifying the most appropriate print or broadcast outlets for his clients and then arranging for the purchase of space or time.

His media expertise led him to join Gardner Advertising in 1965 and Kelly-Nason in 1969. He established his own firm, The Media Department, in 1971. Ken moved to Miami, Florida in 1973 where he joined the Mike Sloan Agency. In 1978 he struck out on his own again when formed The Media Department II, which became a leading provider of media services to the advertising industry in the southeast. Ken sold the business to his associates when he retired in 1994, and it continues as a leader today. Ken also served as an Adjunct Professor of Marketing at Florida international University for two years.

As he considered retirement Ken began to develop an interest in woodturning; shaping a wooden object on a lathe. His interest became a second career. He became an accomplished turner showing his work in juried shows. He was a Contributing Editor for “The American Woodturner” magazine from 1995 - 2003. He was a Curator of “A Celebration of the Art of Wood” which was the featured exhibit at The Center for Maine Contemporary Art in June and July 2001. In addition he founded and operated The Woodturning School in Damariscotta, Maine from 2004 until 2011.

Ken married, the love of his life, Katharina Drexel Keoughan in 1985. Katharina, an artist, was working in the advertising business at the time and commerce led to romance. They lived in Miami until Ken’s retirement, subsequent to that they split their time between Mt. Dora, Florida and Friendship, Maine, in 2001 they became full time Maine residents, moving to Newcastle in 2010.

Any remembrance of Ken’s life would be incomplete without mentioning his almost 46 years of sobriety. Ken came in contact with a group of people who had also been in the grip of addiction and who had, by following what they describe as “these simple principles” been able to help one another achieve sobriety, and they helped Ken to do the same. He lived “those simple principles” with devotion and gratitude and in turn helped countless others over the years.

Ken was predeceased by his son, Chris, from an earlier marriage; as well as by his older brother, Sidney Keoughan, Jr.

He is survived by his wife, Katharina; sister-in-law, Christina Kellam; niece, Hannah Kellam; nephew, Henry Kellam; and cousin, Carol Crowley.

A memorial service for Ken will be held at 11:00am, on Saturday, January 20th, at the Second Congregational Church in Newcastle. Per Ken’s request, a catered lunch of “Man Food” will be served in the the Parish Hall following the service. Ken’s request was that you do not send flowers, but instead please give more than you get, always try to do more than expected, smile at strangers and always hug those you love.

Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main Street, Damariscotta, ME 04543. Condolences, and messages for his family, may be expressed by visiting: www.StrongHancock.com.

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