RODNEY, Keith Reeves Of Boston, insurance executive, public servant, and avid sailor, died March 6, 2011 at his home in the North End. He was 67 and suffered from esophageal cancer. An insurance and financial industry expert, Keith Rodney in 1975 was appointed Deputy Insurance Commissioner for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts serving under Governor Michael Dukakis, and served as Deputy Director for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in Washington, D.C. in the Carter administration. He helped found the Plymouth Rock Assurance Company in Boston in 1982. He sailed a series of racing sloops, all named Sheerness, up and down the East Coast from Boston Harbor and the Vineyard Sound, to Buzzards Bay, Long Island Sound, Key West and the Caribbean.
He was the son of the late Emile and Ann Rodney. He is survived by a son, Keith Damon Rodney and wife Rachel Cohen of Wilmington, Vermont, and a daughter, Erica Rothenberg and husband Stephen of Marlborough, two grandchildren, Samuel and Bradford Rothenberg; a brother, Bradford Rodney and wife Gail of New York City, two sisters, Margaret Mullen and husband James of Cromwell, Connecticut, and Ann Rodney of Cambridge; nieces and nephews; Sydney Mullen, Whitney Mullen Westhelle, and William Rodney. He was formerly married to Elsie Schneider Rodney of Wayland, and to Laurel Seneca of Newburyport. His romances and many friendships live beyond his death. He will be dearly missed. A memorial service is planned for 4:00 pm April 2 at his home. In lieu of flowers donations could be made to VNA Hospice Care of MA (www.hospicecarema.org).
