William Henry Kennedy

1930 - 2014

Kennedy, William Henry 1930 ~ 2014 SAN DIEGO -- Judge William Henry Kennedy, a native of Connecticut, died peacefully in his Bankers Hill home early Friday morning at the age of 83. A San Diegan since 1956, "Bill" as he was known by his family and friends served the community of San Diego for over 50 years as a Naval Officer in the Judge Advocate General Corps, a prosecutor and Assistant District Attorney for San Diego County, a United States Attorney in the Reagan Administration and lastly as a Superior Court Judge. Born in Waterbury, Connecticut in 1930, Bill prepped at Hopkins School in New Haven and then attended Yale University graduating in 1952 with Scholastic Honors and also served as the Managing Editor of the Yale Newspaper. He then attended the University of Connecticut graduating again with Honors earning his J.D. Bill then entered the Navy and was commissioned an Ensign in the JAG Corp which brought him to San Diego in 1956. It was here in San Diego that Bill met his wife Patricia. Married 57 years, Bill and Pat made San Diego their home spending their lives rearing their four children and serving the community. In 1958, Bill joined the San Diego District Attorneys Office and became second in command as the Assistant D.A. Then in 1982, he was appointed by President Reagan as the United States Attorney for the San Diego and Imperial Counties. In 1983, he was then appointed to the San Diego Superior Court Bench by then Gov. Deukmejian where he sat for 25 years presiding over numerous high profile criminal cases. Bill retired from the bench in 2008. Judge Kennedy was one of the most senior and respected jurists within the legal community. His reputation was measured by his keen legal mind and his unwavering principles. He also was well known for his contagious sense of humor often times injecting it into the courtroom to bring laughter into an otherwise and often tense moment. Judge Kennedy was also well known and admired for his Catholic faith. He attended mass daily before presiding over his court and was an avid reader of the lives and spirituality of the saints. Bill is survived by his wife Patricia and four children Margaret, Kevin, Aileen and James. Bill is also survived by his six grandchildren Alexandra, Zaidy, Katelyn, Henry, Kylie and William. Services will be celebrated on Thursday, June 5, at the Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception in Old Town. Viewing will begin at 10:00 a.m. with a Rosary to follow at 11:00 a.m. and a Mass of Christian Burial at 12:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Judge Kennedy to Fr. Joe's Villages. my.neighbor.org.