Samuel S. Keys, of Longboat Key and Cape Coral, died July 4. He was 88.

Mr. Keyes was born in Winchester, Mass., and moved in 1986 to Longboat Key from Hartford, Conn. He was vice president of Aetna Life & Casualty and retired in 1986 after 38 years of service, including assignments in Cleveland and Detroit.

In 1942, Mr. Keyes enlisted in the Army as a private and was discharged as a captain, the highest rank achievable by a noncommissioned officer. Among his achievements in the military, he participated in D-Day and landed on Red Beach on Omaha Beach, France, in the early morning of June 6, 1944. A book, “Until I Write Again, Love, Sam,” based on his letters to home during his service in World War II, will soon be published.

He graduated in 1948 from Boston University, where he met and married Virginia, the love of his life. They were married for 62 years before she died in January 2010.

In retirement, he was active in sailing and power boating and was a member of Bird Key Yacht Club. He enjoyed the company of his many friends from Sarasota and Longboat Key and particularly longtime friends who moved to the Sarasota area from Pepper Pike, Ohio.

Mr. Keyes is survived by sister, Frances Yeager; brother, W. Prescott; sons, Stephan S. and Geoffrey P.; and a granddaughter.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Wounded Warrior Project. A private service will be held.

 

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