John Kennedy

John Francis Kennedy

May 23, 1927 - February 27, 2013 BELLOWS FALLS John F. Kennedy was born in Bellows Falls, the elder son of Timothy and Hattie (Farr) Kennedy. He attended Bellows Falls High School where he became a Hall of Fame football player, and also excelled on the BF baseball diamond as a catcher. However, his best catch undoubtedly was Jean Ann Kenneally, whom he married on April 28, 1951.

Upon graduation, John was awarded a football scholarship to attend the University of North Carolina, but chose instead to serve his country in the Pacific theater of operations as a Marine. After the war, he worked in construction before enrolling first at R.P.I., and then transferring to the University of Vermont, where he earned an engineering degree in 1959.

After obtaining his degree, John embarked upon a career of rebuilding the country that he had defended honorably. With transit and machete in hand, John surveyed the backwoods of Northern New England, engineering interstates, access roads, and ski resorts, first for the State of Vermont and later for Perini Construction Company. In 1967, John founded Soils Engineering in Charlestown, N.H., which he ran for over 25 years.

While establishing himself in construction, John was also building his family of two children, Jeanne and Jack. A devoted father, John passed on his value of education and his love of the outdoors to his children, and later, his grandchildren.

Having the famous name "John F. Kennedy", brought smiles and comments wherever he went, enhancing the glint in his eye that sparkled whenever he was about to begin a tale. Masterful in both the art of storytelling and fishing, John accrued a lifetime of anecdotes from time spent on both fresh and salt waters. For him, it was never about the size of the fish he caught, it was about the size of the adventure. John never told fish stories, because fishing was really a means to an end - the fellowship spent with his North Walpole cronies or his first mate, Jean Ann, was the true reward.

Retirement found John in Northern Maine at his summer camp trolling East Grand Lake until he knew its inlets by heart, declaring he never had a bad day on the water. Winters were spent in Little River, S.C., until John's son-in-law, Rick Bascom, convinced him that Key West winters were friendlier, and there were plenty of fish there just waiting to be caught.

John embraced all of life's experiences. From youthful dives from the top of the Old Arch Bridge, falling to the Connecticut River 100 feet below, to, at age 84, venturing into the rainforests of Nicaragua to visit one of his granddaughters serving in the Peace Corps, no leap was too large.

John's six grandchildren represent the culmination of a life well spent and he relished the opportunities for involvement in their lives. His qualities transcended generational differences. John Kennedy's grandchildren will remember their cherished "Grumps" as a devoted friend, engaging companion, respected role model, and spinner of magical yarns.

Surrounded by family, John F. Kennedy peacefully passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013, in Key West, Fla. His family believes him to be the greatest of the Greatest Generation.

John was preceded in death by his beloved son, Jack.

Survivors include his wife, Jean Ann; his daughter, Jeanne F. Kennedy and her husband, Rick Bascom, as well as grandchildren, Hannah, Reva, Sadie and Kesiah Bascom, and Sean and Kenneally Kennedy.

FUNERAL NOTICE: A memorial service celebrating John's life will be held this summer in New Hampshire, at a date to be determined.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to runforgrumps.com - in memory of "Grumps," for a triathalon that benefits Leukemia Research, or to the Norris Cotton Cancer Center at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, in Lebanon, N.H.