Keith Ransford Hemmings

Keith Hemmings, of Quincy, passed away following a cardiac arrest at Tufts Medical Center (TMC) in Boston, MA, with his wife at his bedside.

Keith was the beloved husband of Rev. Esther Bowen who is an interfaith chaplain at TMC. He was the son of the late John Ransford Hemmings and the late Beatrice (Estabrooke). He was also preceded in death by three siblings: Barbara Hemmings Gray, Vivian Hemmings Dunning, and Albert Hemmings. He is survived by his dear niece, Melanie (Hemmings) Lawrence (Ken) and nephew, Aaron Lawrence of Murfreesboro, TN. The extended Bowen family were like family to Keith and deeply loved by him.

Keith was born in Oceanside, NY, and always thought of himself as a New Yorker even though he lived most of his life in Quincy. He was a diehard NY Yankees fan but was also a loyal follower of the New England Patriots. Keith graduated high school in East Rockaway, NY, and attended Eastern Nazarene College, majoring in biology. While also in college he graduated from the first EMT class in Massachusetts and drove an ambulance for several years. During the Viet Nam era Keith joined the US Navy briefly and upon his honorable discharge began working in the Press Room at the Patriot Ledger where he worked for over thirty-eight years.

Keith’s Christian faith was important to him and he served in several capacities at Bethel Church of the Nazarene in Quincy until his recent struggles with cancer and cardiac disease. In his healthy years he was actively involved in various sports, including handball and scuba diving. He and Esther loved going to Cape Cod and vacationed there nearly every summer. He loved cats and owned several over the years that brought him much joy. His engaging and warm personality endeared him to many. Keith was well known for his sense of humor and was a master joke teller. At the same time, Keith was passionate about issues of social justice and being an advocate for those who are marginalized.

A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 10:30 am, Granite City Church, 315 Whitwell Street, Quincy.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Francis House, 39 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116.

Please visit https://www.harborview.live for a live stream of Keith's service.