John Joseph Kennedy

John Joseph Kennedy, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus at The Ohio State University, died Sunday, August 9, 2025.

A renowned statistician and beloved mentor, Dr. Kennedy earned his Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and his undergraduate degree from Westfield State University in Westfield, Massachusetts. For more than 40 years, he taught and conducted groundbreaking research in Ohio State's Department of Education. A pioneer in the statistical analysis of qualitative data, he was making sense of "big data" decades before the term was coined. Author of numerous books and articles, he inspired thousands of students and colleagues worldwide-many of whom continue to build on the foundations he created. Those who studied with him remember not just his brilliance, but also his patience, generosity, and dry wit, which made even the most complex ideas engaging.

Even in retirement, Dr. Kennedy's zest for learning and living never dimmed. Rekindling a childhood love for ice hockey, he took up skating, reveling in the glide of the ice and the friendships formed at the rink. A devoted Columbus Blue Jackets fan, he was a familiar face before games-chatting with players, coaches, and fellow fans, whom he affectionately called his "second family."

Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, on July 18, 1940, to Michael and Rose Kennedy, he was predeceased by his sister Kathy Kennedy Leather and his partner, E. Jane Williams, Ph.D. He is survived by his son, Michael J. Kennedy (Kathryn), who carries forward his father's love of learning and integrity of spirit.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, donations may be made to The Topiary Park, 480 E. Town Street, Columbus, Ohio, 43215, a place whose creativity and beauty brought him great joy.