John Joseph Kennedy IV

He was born in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1950 the son of the late John J. Kennedy III and Arline (Twohill) Kennedy.

John was the beloved husband of Jeanne M. Kennedy of Watertown MA & Seabrook Island SC, with whom he celebrated 50 years of marriage on May 19th. Loving father of Jonathan R. Kennedy of Bellingham WA, Kathleen M. Khazai and her husband Farzad Khazai of Sudbury, the late Patrick B. Kennedy, and Brian P. Kennedy and his wife Tiffany R. Kennedy of Broomfield CO. Adoring grandfather to six grandchildren, John Dennis (J.D.), Liam, Cecilia, Keira, June and Conan. Brother to the late Edward P. Kennedy and his widow Mary Juden of Branford CT.

John spent his early years in New Haven, CT. Upon graduation from high school, he moved to Boston to pursue his studies, receiving a Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering in 1972. After graduation he began his career as a transportation engineer working in the Boston office of Alan M. Voorhees and Associates (AMV). It was there that he met his future business partners and in 1979 he joined them in founding Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc (VHB). He would spend his remaining career at VHB, helping to grow the firm to over 1900 employees in over 30 locations across the country and becoming an icon in the transportation engineering industry. He had a leading role in many critical infrastructure projects, including Boston’s Central Artery/Tunnel (Big Dig). His tireless dedication helped keep the city running throughout the entirety of the Big Dig and his legacy is instilled in its lasting footprint. Other high-profile projects included MassDOT’s Fast14 accelerated bridge project & Route 3 expansion, along with the first national application of TCT’s MIST system for NEMA controllers along the Daniel Webster Highway. He also served in many leadership positions within the Institute for Transportation Engineering (ITE), including as its Vice President and President, and later receiving ITE’s Burton W. Marsh Award for Distinguished Service in 2017. He was a registered professional engineer and member of the first class of Professional Traffic Operations Engineers. He also served as a guest lecturer at Harvard University and Northeastern University.

Besides his professional interests, John was an active member of the Framingham community, where he resided for over 40 years. He served as a lector at St. Jeremiah’s Parish. He was a volunteer coach for children’s basketball and soccer leagues through St. Jeremiah’s CYO, Temple Beth Am and Framingham Soccer Association and a regular spectator at Framingham High School basketball games and swim meets. His hobbies included gardening, golf and traveling. But most importantly, he was the best friend & husband to his adoring wife Jeanne and the best Daddy and Papa to his family, all of whom will dearly miss him.

Memorial visitations will be held on Tuesday May 30th, 2023 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at the Duckett Funeral Home of J.S. Waterman & Sons, 656 Boston Post Rd, Sudbury.

A funeral mass will be held on Wednesday, May 31st, 2023 at 10:30 am at Ascension Parish, 160 Concord Road, Sudbury.

Interment in Mt. Benedict Cemetery in West Roxbury will be held immediately after the mass.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in John’s memory may be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in memory of John J. Kennedy to support cancer research and patient care at:

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

P.O. Box 849168

Boston, MA 02284

Or via dana-farber.org/gift