John William Kennedy

Colonel (Ret) John William Kennedy of Camden, age 75, died peacefully surrounded by his loving family on 12/09/2017. John was born on July 4th, 1942, in Dublin, Ireland. He was the youngest child of John Thomas Kennedy and Mary Kelly. He came to America in 1946 and his family settled in Miami, Florida, where he attended school until joining the United States Air Force in 1960. John was a medical administrative specialist and reached the rank of Technical Sergeant before becoming an officer. While stationed at R.A.F. Kirknewton in Scotland, he met the love of his life, Margaret “Maggie” Boyd, who stole his heart with her winning personality and infectious laugh. Through the Air Force “Operation Bootstrap” program he attended the University of Southern Mississippi, where he received a degree in Political Science and was a member of Phi Kappa Phi.

In 1974 John received a direct Commission to the Medical Service Corps, and was assigned Commander, Medical Squadron Section and Medical Mobility Officer at Myrtle Beach AFB in South Carolina. During this time he attended Webster College and obtained a Masters Degree in Public Administration. His next assignment took him to Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany, where he served as Assistant Medical Operation Officer. During this tour he was part of an operational team that evacuated and returned U.S. hostages from Iran on Thanksgiving Day. John’s next assignments would also include serving as Director of Medical Resource Management at RAF Bentwaters, England, as well as serving in the Aeromedical Evacuations Operations Branch at Scott AFB, Illinois. He served as Clinic Administrator at Norton AFB and then as Hospital Administrator at Dover AFB, Delaware. His final assignments included serving as Team Chief of the Medical Inspection Unit at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico. He retired from active military duty in 1997 after serving 33 years. His decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, with four oak leaf clusters, and the Air Force Commendations Medal.

After retiring from the Air Force, John became the Clinic Manager at the Division of Public Health Clinic in Georgetown, Delaware. In 2006, he became the State AIDS Director and served in that capacity until 2012, when he retired from the state of Delaware employment.

He was a member of the Dover Elks Club, the American Legion (Post 2), C.L.A.A.P., and the Irish Society of Delmarva. He liked to play an occasional game of golf because it taught him humility, and he often paired up with another Irishman, Mulligan. His hobbies included photography, reading, and spending time with his family, particularly his two young grandsons, Luke and Gavin.

He was preceded in death by his father John, his mother Mary, a brother, Joseph, and sister, Mary. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Maggie Kennedy, and son Jason Kennedy, son Ryan Kennedy and wife Lizette, two grandsons, Luke and Gavin. Sister, Helen M Kennedy, and sister-in-law Kit Kennedy of Miami, Florida, brother-in-law Robert Boyd of West Calder, Scotland, and his wife Margaret.

In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to the Scholarship Fund for the Irish Society of Delmarva Box 1060, Dover Delaware 19903

Memorial Service Monday, December 18, 2017, 12 Noon at Pippin Funeral Home, 119 W. Camden-Wyoming Avenue, Wyoming, DE 19934.  Friends may gather beginning at 11 am.

 Service Information