James Richard Kennedy, 79, died Sept. 22, 2006 at his home in Oak Harbor following a lengthy illness. He was born June 14, 1917 in Seattle to Matthew and Geraldine (Downey) Kennedy. He was a child of a pioneer family from the Kent Valley area.

Jim attended Holy Rosary and O’Dea high schools in Seattle. At age 17,, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy because it was the right thing to do during World War II. He served in the Pacific. He later joined the Merchant Marines.

Jim was a longtime employee of the U.S. Navy, serving for many years at Sand Point, Pier 91. With the closure of the Seattle facility, Jim transferred to NAS Whidbey and was assigned to the Supply Department.

His greatest pride and joy were his daughters. Jim’s family meant the world to him. His wife of 35 years, Marina from Chile and his two daughters, Christine Kennedy, an environmentalist in California, and Dr. Eileen Kennedy, a research scientist at Harvard University. Jim was known as a true friend and a gentleman.

He was a good Irish storyteller and a man of his word. He had a love for the sea and spent the majority of his life either aboard ships or working on boats.

Jim was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Coupeville and St. Augustine’s Catholic Church of Oak Harbor. He was a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Jim is survived by his wife Marina at the family home, Coupeville; by his daughters, Dr. Eileen Kennedy at Harvard University and Dr. Yevgeny Berdichevsky a biochemist of Boston, and Christine Kennedy and Chris Stephen of Sebastopol, Calif. He is also survived by one brother-in-law Joe Testu of Belfair; two sisters-in-law, Joan Kennedy of Enumclaw and Marge Kennedy of Seattle; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, Robert, Eugene and Patrick Kennedy and two sisters, Virginia Testu and Sister Mary Agnes O.P. Kennedy.

A memorial Mass will be celebrated at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in West Seattle on Friday, Sept. 29 at 10:30 a.m. Inurnment will follow at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery in Kent.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society. Arrangements are entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor.