James A. Kennedy Jr.

James A. Kennedy Jr. (Jim) passed away surrounded by his family on November 21, 2024, at the age of 86. A beloved husband, father and grandfather, he was known for his integrity, business acumen, and unwavering commitment to family.

Jim was born in Short Hills, New Jersey to James and Dorothy Kennedy on December 15, 1937. Following his graduation from the College of the Holy Cross, he served as an officer in the U.S. Navy before obtaining an M.B.A. from Columbia University in New York. He met the love of his life, Judith (Judy) Lynn Tunstall in Manhattan, married in 1974, and raised three children.

Jim retired as an Executive Director of Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) PLC and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of National Starch and Chemical Company in 1999. During the course of his illustrious professional career, he also served as Chairman of the Board of Unilever USA and as a director of the Guardian Life Insurance Company of America.

His Catholic faith and commitment to community also led him to donate his time and expertise to the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), where he served as Chairman of the Board of trustees, and to Freedom House of New Jersey, a non-for-profit drug addiction treatment organization, where he served on the board of directors.

Jim was an avid, lifelong fan of tennis. He was a very talented player who instilled his love of the sport in his children. He also spent much of his life traveling the world, both during his professional career and afterward, when he and Judy cruised around the world together on the open seas. More than anything else, he cherished every moment he had with his family, especially his grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father, his brother, Robert, and his nephew, Ian. He is survived by his wife, Judy; his children, Brian (Kathryn), Karen (Michael) Coady, and Kevin (Heather); his nephew, Matthew (Ann); and four loving grandchildren, Ella, Katelyn, Ryan, and James.

A visitation for James will be held Tuesday, December 3, 2024 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 pm at John M. Taylor Funeral Home 147 Duke of Gloucester Street Annapolis, Maryland 21401. A mass of christian burial will occur Wednesday, December 4, 2024 at 10:30 AM in St John Neumann Church, 620 N Bestgate Rd, Annapolis, MD 21401. A graveside service will occur Wednesday, December 4, 2024 at 1:00 PM in Mount Olivet Cemetery, 1300 Bladensburg Road NE, Washington, DC 20002.