Michael O’Keefe ‘03 knew about Trinity-Pawling from a young age having grown up in nearby Patterson. He began his Trinity-Pawling education in the Middle School and was involved in various sports, the Drama Society, and the Trinitones.
“Early in my T-P athletic career, I didn’t venture out of the lower tiered teams since I was never really the athletic type despite enjoying basketball and golf,” O’Keefe says. As a junior, O’Keefe joined the cross country team and admits that it was challenging, but rewarding. “My first year on the team was really hard but everyone was very encouraging including the coaches— Greg Carpiniello and Jim McDougal,” O’Keefe recalls. “I think that is really where my sense of brotherhood and passion for sports started. Being a member of the team, even if I was always one of the last to finish, really meant something to me and definitely drove my passion for athletics and staying fit.”
After graduating, O’Keefe attended University of Miami where he earned his B.S. in Civil Engineering and worked as a manager for the University’s football team. “Keeping involved with athletics in some fashion was something I realized I wanted to do after my time at T-P because I found myself wanting to be more involved with the School,” he says.
O’Keefe began law school in 2007, and successfully passed the Florida Bar Exam after graduating with his J.D. in 2010. He held several positions in university athletics compliance, insurance law, and is currently a patent lawyer in Fishkill, NY. He advises current Trinity-Pawling students to “go out and experience everything that the School has to offer. With all of the opportunities available, students are bound to find their passion regardless of the field in which it may be.”