James S. Kennan

Jim was born on June 9, 1937, in Des Moines, Iowa. He passed away peacefully from complications of the flu on January 23, 2025, at UVA Hospital. Jim was a friend, a husband, and a devoted and loving father. He was 87 plus. Jim was the second son of the Reverend Ernest Victor and Virginia Hyde Kennan. He adored and admired his older brother, Ralph Hyde Kennan. Jim began his education at Mrs. Dell's Den of Learning in Des Moines in the early 1940's. It was a place he spoke of with fear, amusement and his introduction to life-long learning. When his father was called to Emanuel Church in Baltimore, Jim attended Calvert School and later Gilman School. Gilman held a special place in his heart. In his later years he proudly wore his Gilman sweatshirt and spoke of playing football and lacrosse at both schools – with very little success. When his father passed away unexpectedly, he moved with his mother to his grandparents beloved farm "Morrowdale" in Albemarle County. There he gained a deep love of 4-H and farming, something he would do well into his later years. He graduated from Albemarle High School in 1955. A fact few may know is during his junior and senior years, he proudly drove a school bus in one of the scariest school bus routes in western Albemarle County. Following high school graduation, he went to the place he loved nearly as much as Albemarle County: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) and the Corps of Cadets. In 1959 he graduated with honors; he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. For the next twenty years, he served in the intelligence field and traveled the world. He retired on the Colonel's list. Over the course of his military career, he met his wife, the late Elizabeth (Betsy) N. Kennan and had two daughters who he adored: Anne Mills Kennan Taylor and Elizabeth (Beth) Paddock Kennan. During this time, he also graduated from the University of Virginia Curry School of Education, making him always conflicted between being a true Hokie and a Wahoo. He also graduated from senior officer training at the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Va. He received numerous commendations and medals during his twenty-year service in the military and government work. Upon his retirement from the military, Jim returned to Charlottesville with his young family and went to work at the University of Virginia Hospital initially as the administrator of Blue Ridge, a highlight of his professional career. He truly loved going to work there each day. As he rose into leadership roles at the UVA Health System, he always remembered Blue Ridge fondly for its strong sense of community and wonderful employees. During his twenty-five years at UVA, he took great pride in connecting the University's Health System with the surrounding community, implementing long-held plans for a daycare center for UVA employee's children, and making the connections between Southwest Virginia and UVA, to ensure that Appalachia would be provided clinics regularly staffed by UVA medical, nursing students and support staff. He also led the development team in raising the funds for the 1989 UVA hospital, its Children's Medical Center and the School of Nursing. In his later years, as a patient of the hospital, he would say "I helped put that place together and they have put me back together." In his free time, he served on the Vestry of Christ Episcopal Church, serving as senior warden at least once and possibly twice. With the support of the church, he went about starting Westminster Canterbury of the Blue Ridge. He convinced a small group that care and facilities were needed for the growing demographic of older adults in Central Virginia. He also envisioned Westminster Canterbury as a place where his mother could and did thrive in her later years. Jim's foundational efforts to establish Westminster Canterbury were a point of exceptional pride. The vision was one he seemed to have had since he was a child and visited elderly parishioners with his father. Westminster Canterbury, it seems is based on that experience. A fact very few know. In a life committed to service, Jim supported and led various non-profits and found his work with the United Way of Greater Charlottesville to be among the most rewarding. He truly believed in all the good that the community could and can do when it works together. Jim received numerous acknowledgements and awards for service. He did not seek out recognition but instead saw this work as just what you do when you believe in people and community. In retirement, Jim became a court appointed mediator, got a real estate license and continued to volunteer and give back to the community. He also went back to the place that shaped him the most, Virginia Tech, and was honored to be appointed as an Emeritus Director of the Corps of Cadets. If Jim spoke to anyone who he thought might be interested in Tech, he heavily tried to recruit them and encouraged the recruitment of women to the Corps. Until recently, he was participating in zoom calls with his company at Tech. Despite an inner conflict between loyalties to UVA and Virginia Tech, he took pleasure in seeing the face of Virginia Tech evolve over the decades. Virginia Tech and the Corps held a profound place in his heart. Even with all he did, Jim held his family closest to his heart. They were the center of his world. From an early age, he would try to find cousins and expand his family with great success. From family reunions in State College to boat cruises in New York to visiting family in Ireland and England, he loved connecting with family. He was actively involved in his children's lives and in supporting his wife. He enjoyed celebrating their accomplishments and guiding them through their challenges. Jim went to parent – teacher conferences and did pick up from middle school dances, sometimes not a great idea in his daughter's eyes. Jim encouraged their involvement in the community from a very young age. He also enjoyed trips to the movies and amusement parks sometimes, wondering how on earth he ended up at them. He balanced it all with grace, humor and love. Jim and Betsy spent the last few years in The Colonnades. He loved the staff who cared for him. He enjoyed all the activities he participated in and was grateful to all who looked out for him each day. Jim's last two years were particularly wonderful to see. The family is grateful to all who supported him during this time. The visits, the birthday parties, the staff and sense of peace were a true joy and added to his quality of life immensely. Jim is proceeded in death by his wife, Elizabeth (Betsy) Kennan, his parents the Reverend Ernest Victor and Virginia Kennan, and his brother Ralph Hyde Kennan. He leaves behind to cherish his memory his daughters Anne and Beth and a large extended family. A celebration of life will be held at Christ Episcopal Church, Charlottesville, Va. (120 West High Street, Charlottesville, Va. 22902) on February 8, 2025, at 2 p.m. with the Reverend Samuel P. Bush and the Reverend Paul N. Walker officiating. A reception will follow at Christ Church. A private burial at a later date will be at St. Paul's Ivy. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Kennan Fund for Financial Stability at the United Way of Greater Charlottesville (200 Garrett Street, Suite I, Charlottesville, Va 22902) https://unitedwaycville.org/donate/. Condolences may be shared with the family on the tribute wall.