Keohane Funeral Home

Paul F. Drew of Boston, a former hospital executive of Boston, died on November 24, 2011, surrounded by his loving family after a courageous battle with bladder cancer.

Paul was born in 1950 in Boston and grew up in South Boston. Paul graduated from Boston College and attended the School of Management. He held administrative and finance positions at the MA Department of Mental Health and rose to be the Deputy Assistant Commissioner. In 1985, he joined the leadership team at New England Medical Center as the Vice President of Clinical Operations where he managed the clinical operations of the hospitals largest clinical departments. He was responsible for developing and managing the faculty practice plan and oversaw the expansion of the primary care and specialty networks. In 1994, Paul was recruited to be the Chief Operation Officer at Boston City Hospital where he was responsible for the strategic planning and management of all clinical and administrative operations. He had a key leadership role in the merger of Boston University Medical Center Hospital, Boston City Hospital and Boston Specialty and Rehabilitation Hospital when Boston Medical Center was formed in 1996. It was the nation’s first full asset merger of a public and private hospital He assumed a new role of vice president of Network Development at Boston Medical Center where he oversaw managed care contracting, new business development and the creation of the faculty practice plans and management services organizations. He also served as the liaison to Boston University. In 2003, he was named Executive Vice President and his responsibilities expanded to include real estate development and all clinical affiliations. Paul was responsible for recruiting many top physicians to the hospital and it was often said his warmth and gregarious personality helped seal many deals. Paul was well known in health care circles throughout the region. He was a mentor to many professionals in health care who valued his sage advice. He served on many professional boards including Boston HealthNet, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and Boston MedFlight. He was known as an advocate for ensuring access to care for patients and was frequently honored by community health centers for his efforts.

Paul married the love of his life, Kathy (Sheehan) in 1978. They lived in Plymouth and moved to Boston in recent years. His eyes would light up at the mention of his children, Kelly, Carissa and William and it was not unusual for him to interrupt a meeting to take their calls. In 2010 his daughter Carissa and her husband Dave had a daughter Lyla and gave Paul one of his most rewarding roles — grandfather. Paul will be remembered by his many friends and colleagues for his loyalty, hard work, sense of humor, and kind spirit. Paul is survived by his beloved wife Kathleen (Sheehan) Drew of Boston. He was the loving father of Kelly McQuillan and her husband James of Boston, Carissa and her husband David Falzarano of South Boston and William and his wife Elisabeth Drew of New York. Son of the late Edward & Theresa (McDonough) Drew. Brother of John Drew of Hingham. Brother-in-law of William “Jeff” Sheehan of GA, Donna Flynn of Plymouth, Richard Sheehan and Mary Pratt of Quincy and Francis Sheehan of Waltham. Cherished Papa of Lyla Falzarano of South Boston. Paul is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and his large extended family.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the visiting hours on Monday 3-8 PM in the Keohane Funeral Home, 785 Hancock St., QUINCY. A Celebration of Life Service will be held in the funeral home at 9:15 AM on Tuesday prior to the Funeral Mass in St. Ann’s Church, Quincy at 10 AM. Burial in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Dorchester.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Dana Farber Cancer Instituite 10 Brookline Place West, Brookline, MA 02445, C/O Dr. Julia Hayes, Research Genitourinary Oncology.