John Keenan was born the fourth of seven children of Philip and Loretta Keenan. His father worked in the mailing room of the Record American, and then the Boston Herald, while his mother worked at Filene’s and CNA Insurance. John was raised in Quincy and attended the Quincy Public Schools, graduating in 1982 from North Quincy High School. He went to Harvard University, earning his way through by working in the athletic department equipment room. He worked summers in the State Legislature as an intern in then Representative Michael Morrissey’s office, and as an intern in the Attorney General’s office. He also worked the Saturday overnight shift at the Herald. John graduated with honors from Harvard in 1986, with a government concentration. Three years later, he graduated from Suffolk University Law School. In May 2005, he received a certificate of recognition upon completion of a nine-month seminar program on municipal governance and policy at the Rappaport Institute at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

After law school, John worked first as a litigator, then as a public defender, followed by work as an attorney combating insurance fraud. He is admitted to practice in all Massachusetts State Courts, the Federal District Court for the District of Massachusetts, the Federal First Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.

While in law school, John was appointed to serve as the Chairperson of the Quincy Mayor’s Commission on Handicapped Affairs, and was then appointed to the Quincy Zoning Board of Appeals, on which he served for seven years. In 1997 he was appointed Executive Secretary in the administration of Quincy Mayor Jim Sheets. As Executive Secretary he managed 22 municipal department heads and was responsible for the preparation and presentation of Quincy’s budget and the review of all financial matters. In 2001, John became Executive Director of the Norfolk County Retirement System, a public pension system with approximately 10,000 active and retired members, and assets of over $500 million .

While serving as Executive Director of the Norfolk County Retirement System, in 2003 John was appointed to the Quincy City Council to fill a vacant seat, and was elected Councilor at Large in 2004. He was re-elected Councilor at Large four times, the last time as the top vote getter. He served as Chairman of the Council’s Finance Committee for eight years. In 2010 John ran for the State Senate, Norfolk and Plymouth district. He won the democratic primary and in the final election beat his republican and independent opposition. He finished the final year of his term on the Quincy City Council while beginning his term in the State Senate.

John’s first term in the Senate was marked by hard work and effective advocacy on behalf of his district. As a first year legislator, he quickly succeeded in passing a home rule petition critical to the $1.5 billion redevelopment of downtown Quincy. He sheparded through the Senate legislation that allowed for the design/build of the Petersen Pool and a track at the Braintree High School, as well as a supplemental appropriation and land transfer legislation for the Rockland senior center project, funding for school grounds work in Holbrook, and school work in Abington.

As Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse, John authored An Act Relative to Prescription Drug Diversion, Abuse and Addiction, legislation which has been described as “life saving” and “a model”, and which was signed into the law by Governor Patrick on August 18, 2012. He was actively engaged in Senate debate on municipal health care and pension reform, calling for responsible changes in both areas, and was an outspoken opponent of the gaming legislation, arguing that the legislation promised too little in return compared to the social costs associated with gaming. In January 2013 John was appointed Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Public Health. He also serves on the following committees: Financial Services; Revenue; Judiciary; State Administration and Regulatory Oversight; Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities; and, Senate Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets, of which he is the Vice-Chair .

John resides at 37 Hobomack Road with his wife, Jeanne Hopkins, and their three children. He is a member of the Merrymount Association, the Ward One Democratic Committee, the Quincy City Club, Friends of the Thomas Crane