Keegan Focused on The 'Am,' Not the 'Will Be'

The rain fell with varying degrees of intensity Saturday on the crowds of people gathered in the side yard and behind First Parish Wayland for a celebration of life service in memory of Marina Keegan.

Their patience, their desire to be a part of Saturday memorial served as a visual testament to the impact Keegan had during her short 22 years.

Fifteen minutes before the 2 p.m. service, the doors of First Parish were closed as the building had reached capacity. But still people came and as they were turned away, began to look for another opportunity to take part. They found that opportunity clustered around an open window to the side of First Parish, where they could hear, but not see, the service.

“She was always focusing on the ‘am’ rather than the ‘will be,’” said Cameron Keady, one of a long list of friends, Yale University professors and family members to offer remembrances during the ceremony. “Marina is my childhood, my adolescence and my young adulthood … she should have been my future.”

Keegan’s tenacity, sense of adventure, creativity and precociousness emerged as the common threads as individuals shared their various memories of the lifelong Wayland resident and recent Yale graduate.

But it was her writing and passion for examining life and people that truly took center stage. From the booklet of her writings circulated along with the program of the day’s service, to the readings of her work by a couple of her professors, Keegan’s own words echoed throughout the service dedicated to her memory.

Tears momentarily choked the words of a few speakers, but more laughter than tears mingled with the rain outside as story after story, grateful friend after grateful friend told of the many ways Keegan touched their lives.

“The loss of Marina to her family and those who loved her is profound,” said Professor John Crowley. “But the loss of Marina for the world is also great.”

Since her tragic death on May 26, more than 1 million people have read online Keegan’s commencement article for the Yale Daily News, “The Opposite of Loneliness.”

“Beautiful, original, radiant, provocative, stubborn, fearless, contrarian and, I thought, unstoppable,” said professor Anne Fadiman. “I knew she would be famous, but death has made her famous fast.”

Keegan’s work will continue to impact audiences as “Independents,” the musical on which she was working at the time of her death, heads to New York later this summer for an international festival. Music from the play served as the prelude music for Saturday’s service.

“She could brighten my day,” her father, Kevin Keegan, said. “And as you all can now see, she could light up the world with her message of it would never be too late to imagine the possibilities and make a difference.

“Marina’s death has become a summons to life for the world.”