John David Kennedy

John David Kennedy, 71, formerly of Jermyn, died on May 23 in Portland, Ore.

Born in Scranton on May 4, 1944, son of the late Harold and Olga Mikridge Kennedy, John, or "Johnny" aka "the Bee Man" to his family and friends, was a lover of people and of life, and throughout his life traveled near and far from his native Pennsylvania. He was the youngest of three children, having older sisters, Bette and Karen, to thank for helping to raise him with strength. He later moved with his family to his mother's family home in Jermyn, where many gatherings and celebrations were held.

John attended school in the Jermyn area, and served as class president of the junior and senior classes at Lakeland High School, from which he graduated with honors.

John faced two major obstacles in his childhood, losing part of his left leg at age 7 and losing his father at age 13. He overcame his physical obstacle in stride, starring as a pitcher for his high school baseball team and acquiring his private pilot's license at the age of 21. John attended college at Dickinson College in Carlisle, where he double-majored in history and economics. The summers between college, he worked in Freehold, N.J., at the Nescafe coffee plant, where he would recall that, when it rained, the whole city would smell like coffee. He flew small planes throughout college, once flying the debate team to a tournament across the state.

Following his college graduation in 1966, John sailed to Europe on a cruise ship carrying more than 1,000 college grads, arriving in Liverpool after 10 days at sea. He traveled throughout the British Isles and the continent, kissing the Blarney Stone in Ireland (which graciously granted him the gift of gab), riding a motorcycle from Luxembourg to Paris and making it as far south as the Canary Islands.

Once back in the states, John responded to a classified ad for a sales job, and moved west to San Francisco in the summer of 1969. Finding himself at the center of the hippie movement, he grew his hair long and reveled in the beauty and freedom of Californ-i-a. There John met and married Brenda Mathews (Brodie), the mother of his three children. Together they lived in San Francisco, Japan, Pennsylvania and Idaho.

John discovered his life's passion of beekeeping in the 1980s in San Francisco, keeping bees in urban gardens and producing all natural honey. His expertise in beekeeping took him all over the world. He traveled to Azerbaijan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan as a volunteer for USAID, and worked as a bee inspector for the state of Pennsylvania.

John made friends wherever he went, and often asked people, "What's your endeavor?" The majority of the later part of his life was spent in Pocatello, Idaho, where he had many bee hives and could be seen selling honey at the local farmer's market.

John's passion for bees and honey was infectious, and he helped many others get started with their own hives.

Although his children had graduated and moved away, he was a passionate enthusiast for Poky High's basketball games for many years. He moved to Oregon in 2013 to be closer to his son and grandsons.

John was one-of-a kind, and will be missed by many. His never-ending kindness and graciousness for others is a gift everyone can learn from and part of the legacy he has left behind.

John is survived by his children, Shane Kennedy, Portland, Ore.; Caitlin Kennedy Smith, Bozeman, Mont.; and Kristin Kennedy, Los Angeles; a sister, Karen Kennedy Monaghan, Vestal, N.Y.; four grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and many, many friends.

John was also predeceased by a sister, Elizabeth Kennedy Memmott; and infant twin sisters, Doris and Juel Kennedy.

A memorial in John's honor will be held in August. Details will follow.

Donations may be made to the Harold Kennedy Scholarship Fund, a scholarship John started in memory of his father for high achievers in science at Lakeland High School. Checks or cards can be mailed to B. Mathews, 337 S. Johnson, Pocatello, ID 83204.