Michael O’Keeffe was born in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England, on the 3rd April, 1934. He was one of four children born to Dr. E. Joseph O’Keeffe, an immigrant from Ireland, and his mother Marjorie G. O’Keeffe (née Marten).  From 1942 to 1951 he attended Prior Park College (Bath) and then from 1951 to 1957 the University of Bristol: B.Sc. in chemistry (1954), Ph.D. (1958, mentor Frank S. Stone). He spent 1958-1959 at Philips Natuurkundig Laboratorium (group of Evert W. Gorter) then did postdoctoral research at Indiana University (mentor Walter J. Moore). 1960-62.  He subsequently became a U. S. citizen.