Sarasota Pediatrician Katherine Keeley, MD, Remembered for Decades of Service

Dr. Katherine Moore Keeley, a dedicated pediatrician who served the Sarasota, Florida, community for nearly five decades, passed away on March 13, 2026, at the age of 80. She was known for her compassionate care, unwavering advocacy for children and commitment to the well-being of generations of families.

A Career Dedicated to Pediatric Care

Dr. Keeley’s career spanned 48 years. She became a trusted figure for parents and children alike, and was affiliated with Lakewood Ranch Medical Center and Sarasota Memorial Hospital , providing pediatric care and contributing to the health infrastructure of the region.

After 45 years of practicing pediatrics, Dr. Keeley announced her retirement in 2026, a decision made with mixed emotions, according to First Physicians Group. The group expressed deep gratitude for her years of service and the lasting relationships she built with families.

Advocacy and Leadership

Dr. Keeley’s commitment extended beyond clinical practice. She served for fifteen years as Medical Director of Sarasota’s Child Protection Center, tirelessly advocating for children who had experienced abuse or neglect. At Sarasota Memorial Hospital, she held numerous leadership roles, including Chief of Staff, and served on virtually every service committee during her decades of service. In 2017, she received Sarasota Memorial’s Lifetime Achievement Award , an honor typically bestowed near the end of a physician’s career. Remarkably, Dr. Keeley continued practicing medicine for nine more years.

Early Life and Education

Born May 26, 1952, in Louisville, Kentucky, Dr. Keeley attended Hollins University in Virginia and earned her medical degree from the University of Louisville School of Medicine. She completed her pediatric residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center from 1979 to 1981.

A Passion Beyond Medicine

Dr. Keeley had a lifelong love of culture and literature. During her medical studies, she spent a year in Paris studying art history. She was a wordsmith with an encyclopedic knowledge of literature and poetry, as well as art, film, and architecture, and kept journals filled with quotations and passages that moved her.

Remembered for Her Optimism and Generosity

Colleagues and patients often noticed Dr. Keeley’s relentlessly cheerful optimism and gentle smile. She had a remarkable way of making everyone she encountered feel valued and supported. Even in her final weeks, she remained more interested in the lives and concerns of others than in her own challenges.

Family

Dr. Keeley is survived by her children, Samuel Blaine Keeley Jr., Katherine Wakefield McDonald, and John Clement Keeley, as well as her grandson Adam Keeley, four granddaughters, her brother, Rogers Thomas Moore, and her nieces, Diane Moore Marsh and Sarah Moore Watkins.

Legacy and Memorial Donations

In keeping with her wishes, no funeral, memorial service, or celebration of life will be held. Dr. Keeley requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation.

She lived exactly as she wished, caring for children, serving her community, and finding joy in the perform she loved.