Jack Kennedy

KENNEDY John W. "Jack" Jack Kennedy, age 79, of Sylvania, Ohio passed away on June 7, 2008, in his home, surrounded by his loving family. Born in Toledo, OH on April 11, 1929, to Winifred (Andrus) and Jack Kennedy. He was an outstanding athlete at Woodward High School; lettering in five sports and honored as an All-City and All-District basketball player. He was inducted into the Woodward High School Hall of Fame in 1988 and the City League Hall of Fame in 1994. Jack received a basketball scholarship to Bowling Green State University and he also played basketball at the University of Toledo. In 1949 he joined a traveling professional basketball team, The Toledo Mercury's and in 1953 joined the Washington Generals which were teams that traveled and played against the "World Famous," Harlem Globetrotters. During the Korean War he was stationed at the 6th Army Headquarters at the Presidio in San Francisco, CA. During the summers when not traveling with the Globetrotters, he played and pitched in fast-pitch softball leagues. Jack was always proud of the fact that he pitched and won against the famous traveling "King and His Court" softball team led by pitcher Eddie Feigner. Early in his career, he left Toledo for Las Vegas and was a dealer at the Mint and Dunes Casinos. When he returned to Toledo, he owned and operated various businesses; The Toledo Swim Club, various restaurants and nite clubs, Universal Motors, Kennedy-Savage Sporting Goods and the Toledo Pipers of the Continental Basketball League. Jack enjoyed coaching youth baseball and basketball at St. Catherine's School and continued to play both slow-pitch softball and Federation basketball. Beginning in the mid 1980's in what would become an annual event, he hosted his Chili-Mac dinners, a large gathering of friends and sport enthusiasts in the Toledo area. Jack served as a fireman in the Toledo Fire Department for thirteen years and in 1972 became a Supervisor/Commissioner of Parks and Recreation for the City of Toledo, retiring in 1992. During his retirement he continued playing basketball, participating in the Senior Olympics and winning many tournaments around the country. Jack also became an avid golfer. In 2007, he fulfilled his dream of opening a Chili-Mac restaurant called "CHILI-JACK'S" in Sylvania, OH. Jack is survived by his loving wife of 29 years, Barbara; son, Kevin; stepchildren, Jeff and Diana; stepgrandchildren, Nicholas, Ali, Cassidy, Meghan and Caroline; step-great-grand-children, Leah and Isabelle and many life long friends. Friends may call at the Walker Funeral Home, 5155 W. Sylvania Avenue, on Wednesday, June 11, 2008, from 2:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. The Fire Department Last Alarm Service will be at 7:00 p.m. A Christian Mass will be held at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Sylvania, OH on Thursday, June 12, 2008, at 10:00 a.m., officiated by Fr. Richard T. Wurzel. The Kennedy family would like to sincerely thank the dedicated staff of Odyssey Hospice for their kindness and care of Jack, especially Rita, Missy, and Marian. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Odyssey Hospice, 1745 Indianwood Circle, Suite 200, Maumee, OH 43537. Online condolences can be made at www.walkerfuneralhomes.com Arrangements made by Farnham Funeral Home who is honored to have served the Kennedy Family.