Sept. 24, 2001

Minneapolis, Minn. – Former Irish assistant rowing coach Kerry O’Keefe died Sunday in Minneapolis after a long bout with cervical cancer. She was 33.

O’Keefe served as the novice coach of the Irish during its inaugural season in 1998-99. Most recently, O’Keefe was the novice coach for the University of Minnesota women’s rowing team, which just completed its first year as a varsity program. The novice boat was Minnesota’s most successful during the 2000-01 season, finishing second in the grand final at the 2001 Lexus South/Central Sprints in Oak Ridge, Tenn.

Prior to her tenure at Minnesota, O’Keefe was the head coach at Southern Methodist University in 1999-2000, where she started the Mustangs’ program. She also served as an assistant coach at Yale in 1996-97 and at Ohio State the following season, before coming to Notre Dame.

“The country lost a great person and coach in Kerry,” Notre Dame head coach Martin Stone said. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to all that were touched by Kerry, including her family, friends and the student-athletes she coached.”

O’Keefe is survived by her mother Ann, her brother Roy, her sister Kim and her twin sister Karen. A funeral service will be held Wednesday at 4:00 p.m., at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis. The Kerry O’Keefe Equipment Fund for Women’s Rowing has been set up by the family at the University of Minnesota.