Lawrence David Kenney

Larry was born on December 8, 1940, in Hartford, WI to John Harvey Kenney and Catherine Foster. His childhood years were spent primarily in Mexico. While attending San Marcos Academy in San Marcos, TX, he contracted polio at the age of 12. Larry went on to graduate from Hartford Public High School in CT, and then Oberlin College in 1963. He earned a postgraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Larry worked as an editor for Country Beautiful Corp., Waukesha, WI, (1968-74) and Prentice Hall, Toronto, ON, (1974-77) but spent most of his career as a manuscript editor for Yale University Press from 1977 until his retirement in 2010. After moving to North Carolina in 2012, he continued to freelance for numerous universities until 2021.

Larry enjoyed woodworking and spent many hours building and repairing furniture. Papa Larry, as he was known to his grandchildren, was an avid reader and he passed down his love of books and reading to his family.

Larry is preceded in death by his sister Suzanne Meehan, brother John Robert Kenney, niece Ann Kenney, and niece Nancy Meehan.

Larry is survived by his wife Patricia Alexandra Kenney, his children Alex, Elizabeth, and Kathleen, grandchildren Sebastian, Nayelli, Carolina, Evan, Jack, and William, and nieces Tad, Becky, Ellen, Katie, Cassie, Jennifer, and their families.

A celebration of life will be held in the family home on December 8th, 2023 from 2pm – 6pm. Friends and family are invited to stop by to offer condolences and share their memories of Larry. Please contact the family for location information.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions can be donated to Piña Palmera, https://www.pinapalmera.org/?lang=en. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared below within “Add a Memory” for the Kenney family.