Cite: http://unix.stackexchange.com/a/12201
You need to use an ssh agent.
$ ssh-add
Before pushing. Supply your passphrase when asked.
If you aren't already running an ssh agent you will get the following message:
Could not open a connection to your authentication agent.
In that situation, you can start one and set your environment up thusly
eval $(ssh-agent)
Then repeat the ssh-add
command.