William Kennedy

William E. Kennedy died at home on Friday, February 16, 2018.  He was born on August 13, 1933 in Stamford, Connecticut to William F. and Victoria P. Kennedy. In 1940 the family moved to Yonkers, New York where he was educated. He graduated from Fordham Prep in 1951 and Fordham University in 1955 where he majored in Russian Area Studies. Bill served with the United States Air Force from 1956-1959 as a Navigator and Electronic Warfare Officer on a B52 crew. Upon discharge he entered government service where he remained until retirement in 1993.

His government career focused on national security. In 1981 he was appointed to the Senior Executive Service. His assignments were with the National Security Agency, the Air Force and the National Reconnaissance Office in the Washington area as well as tours of duty in England and Australia.

Upon government retirement Bill began a second career in education. He taught management related courses at the Graduate School of Johns Hopkins University from 1993-2003 and did training and instruction for Anne Arundel Community College and Chesapeake College. He was appointed to the Talbot County School Board by the Governor from 1997-2000. In 2000 he obtained his private pilot's license and flew as a volunteer for the Civil Air Patrol and Angel Flight. In later years, in addition to flying, he served as a Mentor with Talbot Mentors, performed charity work with his wife Carolyn in Russia and the Ukraine and continued to teach part-time at local colleges.  He was particularly proud of his large family and loved to visit and spend time with his children and grandchildren and to watch the Orioles.

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn A. Kennedy whom he married in 1984 and his first wife, Deborah A. Kennedy. Other survivors include eight children from his first marriage (Maureen Kennedy of California; Theresa Rourke (Ed) of Pennsylvania; Kevin Kennedy (Katherine) of Florida, Matthew (Jennifer) Kennedy and John Kennedy of Maryland; Paul Kennedy (Barbara) of Minnesota; Col. Michael Kennedy, USAF (Ret) (Patricia)  and Lt. Cmdr Daniel Kennedy, USCG (Ret) (Kendra), of Virginia, 20 grandchildren, one great grandson, four step children, 12 step grandchildren and his brother, Roger Kennedy of Florida. His son David (Sherrie) of Georgia preceded him in death in 2014.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:30am on Thursday, March 1, 2018 at Linden-Linthicum United Methodist Church, 12101 Linden-Linthicum Lane, Clarksville, MD 21029. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Inurnment at Arlington National Cemetery will be at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Frederick County, PO Box 1799, Frederick, MD 21702; or This Child Here at www.thischildhere.org