Kevin Paul Kennedy, 76, of Winchester, VA, passed away from pancreatic cancer on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, at Blue Ridge Hospice Inpatient Care Center, surrounded by family and close friends.

Kevin was born in 1948 in West Boylston, Massachusetts, the youngest son of the late Bernard Joseph and Mary McAuliffe Kennedy. He lived a quintessential New England childhood, mixing hard work supporting his family with levity, including trips to Maine, multiple sports, and deep love and commitment to his family.

Kevin attended West Boylston Junior Senior High School, Class of 1966, where he graduated near the top of his class, excelled in athletics, and showed an early commitment to others through leadership positions. Prior to his junior year, he followed his interests in biology to a NSF science program in Kentucky where he met Pamela, his future wife of 55 years.
Kevin subsequently attended Dartmouth College and earned a bachelor’s degree in biology. He played hockey and soccer, and, more importantly, he married Pamela during his Junior year, in December 1968. His connection to Dartmouth and with his classmates remained strong, and in recent years he participated in a weekly Zoom call with these lifelong friends.

Kevin was passionate about education and learning, as evidenced by his advanced degrees—a Masters in Sociology from Kent State University and a master’s in social work from the University of South Carolina—and how he lived his life. He always had a news article to share, a topic to discuss, several books going at once, and an enthusiasm for conversations.

Some of Kevin’s most profound learning came from the many trips that he and Pam took together. From the northern fjords of Norway to Cape Horn, to China, and to places in between; on planes, on river cruises, and on land; each trip was “special.” Indeed, despite his cancer diagnosis, Kevin was still able to travel to Australia and New Zealand with Pam and had plans to visit Spain and Portugal.

Kevin worked, as a career and in his free time, in the service of others. In South Carolina, he was a probation and parole officer and then a therapist for mental health and mental retardation, while also repairing multiple rental properties, which were later sold at cost to their renters, all first-time homebuyers. When his family moved from South Carolina to Winchester, Virginia, in 1990, he developed the family therapy program at Timber Ridge School, for which he was recognized by the National Association of Private Educational Facilities. In both South Carolina and Virginia, Kevin was the recipient of outstanding social worker awards including winning the 2009 Virginia Association of Independent Special Education Facilities “Making a Difference Award.” He took pride in his work with adolescent men, many of whom stayed in close contact with him years after leaving the program. He retired in late 2014. Kevin was also dedicated to the Democratic Party, writing monthly op-eds to The Winchester Star, and continually stressing kindness and doing right by others.

To know Kevin was to know his commitment and his passion: his masterful woodworking, especially his furniture; his travel journals and meticulously labeled photo albums; his love of sports, including his season tickets to the Orioles. He was a dedicated father to his twin children, Denis and Meaghin. His children knew that they could always call, and he would always listen, then talk—with kindness, sympathy, and gentle advice.

Raised Catholic, in retirement Kevin found community in, and became a devoted member of, Christ Episcopal Church. He was a member of Torch Club, the Men’s Group, and the Property Committee at church, in addition to serving on the Winchester/Frederick County Democratic Committee and the 6th District Central Committee. His faith guided him throughout his life; his strong moral character fueled his desire to help others.

Surviving with his wife, Pamela Kennedy, is his daughter, Meaghin Kennedy (Justin Reidy) of Charlotte, VT and his grandsons, Hugh and Abe Reidy; his son, Denis Kennedy of Worcester, MA and his grandchildren, Elodie and Conrad Kennedy; and his brother, Terence Kennedy (Adeline) of Amherst, MA.
Mr. Kennedy is preceded in death by his brother, Denis M. Kennedy.

A visitation will be from 6pm to 8pm on Friday, September 20, 2024, at Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at Christ Episcopal Church, 114 W. Boscawen Street, Winchester, VA with The Rev. Webster Gibson officiating. A reception will follow in the church’s Tilford Room.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Winchester – Frederick County Democratic Committee, Christ Episcopal Church – outreach activities, and WATTS.