Thomas Howard Kennedy

In Memory of Thomas Howard Kennedy
A Life Well Lived
After a recent decline in health, Tom Kennedy (86) of Jupiter peacefully passed away on March 5th, 2025 surrounded by his loving family. Born November 18, 1938, Thomas Howard Kennedy was a lifelong resident of Jupiter and Palm Beach County who witnessed the region evolve from a relative wilderness in the 1940s into the connected settled area that it is today. Throughout those almost 90 years, Tom was as familiar with the backwaters, wilderness, and hidden places as only a native Floridian can be.
Early Life
Tom was born to Thomas Kennedy Sr. of New York and Theresa (Kugler) of Pennsylvania after the couple migrated to the outskirts of Lake Worth prior to World War II. From a very early age, Tom exhibited an adventurous spirit and was completely at home in the everglades, palmettos, and waterways of south-central Florida. As a high school classmate two years behind Burt Reynolds, Tom could have served as the inspiration for the actor's swamp-savvy character, Gator McKlusky, except Tom was easy-going, quiet-natured, and shied away from hard spirits.
From the time he was six-or-seven years old until well into his 80s, Tom loved to hunt gators, deer, turkeys, and wild boar, sometimes with just a bow or a black-powder rifle.
A crack shot with a.22, young Tom could shoot mullet from his boyhood home's back porch on the intercoastal waterway, then use the small fish as bait to catch larger ones in the intracoastal of Lake Worth.
Tom joined the U.S. Marines (1956-1959) as a teenager and qualified as an Expert Rifleman. He served at Camp Lejeune and was promoted to Sergeant in 1957.
Education
Tom attended Palm Beach High School, where he excelled in competitive swimming but was not the most "engaged" student academically, although he was good in math. After his stint in the Marines, Tom went to work for Pratt-Witney and a local construction firm in the accounting field. Tom graduated with his Bachelor's from Florida Atlantic University.
Family and Personal Life
Tom had a wonderful sister, Susie Barnett, who will miss him dearly. He had two children, Deborah Kennedy and Patricia Dunlap from his first marriage. Tom became a grandfather of Krista (Andrew) Cromwell, Robert (Shelley) Hershberger, Paige (Rob) Burns and Nick (Caitlin) Dunlap. He was a wonderful grandfather and many of his grandchildren and great grandchildren's childhood memories were of riding on swamp buggies and hunting. Tom has seven great grandchildren and four great great grandchildren.
Hobbies and Interests
Tom was a life-long outdoorsman, who loved hunting, fishing, camping, or just exploring the woods in his swamp buggy, going far and wide and never getting lost. He loved sharing his love of hunting with everyone he met.
A Legacy of Kindness
Tom will be remembered for his kindness, generosity, and unwavering support for his grandkids and great grandkids. He touched their lives with his positive spirit and will be deeply missed by all of them.
Tom was predeceased by his parents, and is survived by his sister, Susie Barnett, daughters, Deborah Kennedy and Patricia Dunlap, grandchildren, Krista (Andrew) Cromwell, Robert (Shelley) Hershberger, Paige (Rob) Burns and Nick (Caitlin) Dunlap, seven great grandchildren and four great great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.. Gramps - You will be so missed. I hope you know just how much you were loved.