Tom Kehoe, Jr. Graduates From St. John's Law

Tom Kehoe, Jr., son of Northport Village Trustee Tom Kehoe, graduated from St. John's Law School earlier this month, adding a law degree to his list of illustrious achievements such as receiving a Bronze Star for his heroism in Iraq.

Born in Glen Cove and raised in Northport, Tom attended Iona College for two years before receiving an ROTC Army scholarship to attend Fordham University, from where he graduated in 2002 with his Bachelor’s Degree in History and a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Following six months on active duty, he returned to civilian life as a paralegal at the prominent law firm of Cravath, Swain & Moore until he was called up in January, 2004 for his first combat tour in the Mideast. Upon his release from active duty in 2006, Tom began his studies at St. John’s School of Law. His legal education took five years instead of three because he was again called to active duty in his 2L year.

“I have been a member of the Army for over 11 years now, either on active duty or as a reservist, and I deem it a privilege to have served our country in such a manner,” he said.

Kehoe follows in the footsteps of his grandfather and namesake, Tom Kehoe, a WWII veteran, and his uncle Gregory Kehoe, a war crimes prosecutor, who both graduated from St. John's.

Thomas J. Kehoe, earned the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts while serving in World War II. After the war, he attended the Law School, then located in Brooklyn, as an evening student while working as a New York City police officer, graduating St. John’s in 1951. And in 1979 Tom’s uncle, Gregory W. Kehoe, earned his St. John’s law degree on the way to becoming one of the most outstanding war crimes prosecutors in recent times. “Uncle Greg,” the Law School’s 2005 Commencement speaker, prosecuted war criminals in The Hague for atrocities arising from the Balkan conflict in the mid 1990’s. In 2004, he was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as United States Chief Advisor (Regime Crimes Liaison) to the Iraqi Crimes Tribunal in Baghdad (which was charged with prosecuting Saddam Hussein).

“My esteemed Uncle Greg’s historic work with the Department of Justice and in private practice has been an inspiration to me since I was a young boy,” Kehoe said.

During his last school year he worked as a law clerk to the House Committee on Homeland Security, serving as a legal analyst for the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security.

“Service to our country is important to me, as it should be to all Americans,” he said. And his commitment to public service does not foreclose leisure activities. With an avid interest in Irish history, , recently representing the club in a boxing tournament in Ireland. “We have such a wonderful history of Irish-American relations, and I’m so proud of my Irish ancestry,” he said (despite a defeat at the hands of the Irish boxer in Dublin in a close contest).

Kehoe has now accepted a job as an associate in Goldman Sachs' Private Wealth Management division. He said he will remain active in the Army Reserves and is not ruling out a return to public service.

"Tom is a leader and is very excited to be working with Goldman," said his father, Tom Kehoe, Sr.

Kehoe, Sr. was proud to see his eldest son graduate in light of the unique challenges presented by his coinciding service to the country.

"It's a wonderful feeling as a parent to see one of your children accomplish something, whatever it is they accomplish," he said. "We were very proud he had done this especially since he had the double burden of being in the Army Reserves and having two tours of duty during his five years of law school. It was hard for him."