John E. Kennedy

1947 - 2022

John E. Kennedy
February 18, 1947 - June 25, 2022
John Edward Kennedy was born February 18, 1947, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. At the age of two, he and his mother moved to San Antonio where she had grown up. He spent the next fifteen years of his life in San Antonio, during which time he attended school at Mt. Sacred Heart and Lamar Elementary School, Hawthorne Junior High, and Texas Military Institute (TMI). In 1958, he was the Spelling Bee Champion and represented Bexar County in the National Spelling Bee in Washington, DC. At TMI, he earned many honors, and during his senior year served as Battalion Commander for the Corps of Cadets. In 1964, he left San Antonio on a Greyhound bus to travel to Cambridge, MA to attend Harvard University. He graduated cum laude in 1968 and in June of 1968 married Linda Bagwell, whom he had met at about age twelve and had been dating since 1965. They began their life adventure, the first step of which was to get him through law school. He would have been eligible for the draft, but his attendance at TMI gave him two years ROTC credit, which allowed him to enter the ROTC program at Harvard Law School and defer his entering the Army until after he graduated from law school. At the end of his first year at HLS, he was awarded the Sears Prize for the 2nd highest grade point average in his class. He was a member of the Harvard Law Review and in the spring of 1970 was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the US Army. He was allowed to finish law school and graduated magna cum laude in June, 1971. After a two and a half month tour of Europe with Linda, he joined the law firm of Vinson & Elkins in Houston and began practicing that fall. He passed the bar exam in October of 1971 with the highest test score for that period, and in January of 1972, he reported for active duty in the Army to Ft. Benning, GA where he served for three months in Military Intelligence.
When John and Linda returned to Houston, they settled into the lifestyle of "young family", adding to the household their children Harlan and Elizabeth. John began his career at V & E working in the litigation area, then moved to the energy section. He enjoyed working with all his colleagues at V & E and made many lifelong friends. For many years, he represented the owners of the Trans Alaska Pipeline (TAPS) before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Through the years, John and Linda, their parents, children, and grandchildren made many trips, particularly hiking trips. Estes Park, CO, Canada, New Zealand, Chile, England were some of their favorites. John's love of hiking has been handed down to Harlan and Elizabeth and hopefully, to their children. Other trips to Hawaii, the Caribbean, Fiji were highlighted by wonderful snorkeling sights.
John grew up in the Alamo Heights Presbyterian Church in San Antonio, and he and Linda joined First Presbyterian Church of Houston in 1975. He was a member of the Session of the church and also served on the board of Presbyterian School.
John is survived by his wife, Linda; his son Harlan and wife, Sarah, and their children, Wyatt, Ellie and Maeve Kennedy of Greenbrae, CA, and his daughter, Elizabeth and her children, Henry, Clara and Helen Zamorano of Houston. He is also survived by first cousins and by Linda's nieces, nephews and their children and grandchildren. He leaves behind many friends and acquaintances who will miss him and his witty remarks and sayings. "Gravity is your friend", "Didn't do him any good", "Life is not fair."
The family wishes to thank John's devoted and loving caregivers: Minerva Cunningham, Penny Handy, Linnette Lewis, Annie Mills, and Katie Nichols. The family also wishes to thank the staff at Care4You Hospice.
A memorial service will be held at a later date at First Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to The Parkinson's Disease Center and Movement Disorders Clinic (PDCMDC) at Baylor College of Medicine or to First Presbyterian Church.